Name: Taiwan Thornless Big Red Dragon Fruit
Brand: Taiwan

The Taiwan Thornless Big Red Dragon fruit has a mild, sweet, and slightly tart flavor, often compared to a mix of kiwi, pear, and watermelon. Its taste is generally described as being more intense and complex than typical white-fleshed dragon fruit, with a crisp and juicy texture that can become syrupy when fully ripe.

Taiwan Thornless Big Red Dragon fruit is a Strong Yellow Spot Disease Resistance Variety.

Characteristics

Thornless Stems: The most notable feature is that the stems have only 1-2 tiny spines near the areole, making them largely considered spineless and easier to manage than traditional thorny varieties.
Flesh Color: Most thornless varieties from Taiwan are red-fleshed. The flesh color is often a deep, vibrant red or magenta.
Taste Profile: They are typically sweet with low acidity, often described as having a cherry-like or mild grape flavor, and a high Brix (sugar content) level, sometimes exceeding 20.
Texture: The flesh is usually firm, crisp, and juicy.
Size: The fruit can grow to be very large
Self-Pollination: Many of these Taiwanese varieties are self-fertile and self-pollinating, which is an advantageous trait for growers as it can ensure better fruit set and size without manual cross-pollination.
Cold Hardy: Taiwan Thornless is a fast-growing red-fleshed variety, slightly more cold-hardy than others in its group.

The flowers of the Taiwan Thornless Big Red (also known as 'Da Hong' or Giant Taiwan Red) dragon fruit variety are large, showy, and nocturnal. They are commonly known as "Queen of the Night" or "Moonflower" due to their short-lived blooming habit.

Key characteristics include:

Size: The flowers are notably large and bell-shaped, typically around 35 cm (14 inches) in length and 14.6 cm in diameter, sometimes growing up to 36 cm long.
Color: They are primarily white or cream-colored on the inside, with the outer perianth scales (sepals/bracts) being yellowish-green with purple edges or tips.
Structure: The bloom consists of numerous white inner tepals and a large number of outer, calyx-like perianth parts. The center features a long, thick pistil (female organ) and many stamens with pale yellow anthers (male organs).
Fragrance: The flowers are highly fragrant, emitting a strong, sweet smell to attract pollinators.
Blooming Habit: They open in the early evening and remain open overnight, typically wilting by the following morning or midday.
Pollination: This variety is a hermaphrodite and considered highly self-compatible (self-pollinating), with a nearly 100% self-pollination rate, which is a key trait making it popular for commercial growing.
Fruiting Frequency: A single plant can bloom multiple times a year, with a new batch of flowers appearing every 15 days during the summer.

The flower buds themselves start small and oval, developing into elongated structures with green, lanceolate sepals as they mature before blooming into the spectacular white flower.

Flavor Profile: The Taiwan Thornless Big Red Dragon fruit has a mild, sweet, and slightly tart flavor, often compared to a mix of kiwi, pear, and watermelon. Its taste is generally described as being more intense and complex than typical white-fleshed dragon fruit, with a crisp and juicy texture that can become syrupy when fully ripe. Taste and texture

Flavor: Mildly sweet with a hint of tartness, often compared to a blend of kiwi, pear, and watermelon.
Sweetness: Can become syrupy when very ripe. Some Taiwanese varieties are noted for their exceptional sweetness and rich sweetness.
Texture: Spongy yet dense, similar to a kiwi, and juicy. Some newer varieties have a crispier and more tender texture.

Additional notes

Aroma: Some varieties have a stronger, more pleasant aroma.
Brix score: The "Brix" score measures sugar content, and higher scores indicate a sweeter fruit. Taiwanese varieties can have high Brix scores, indicating a high sugar content.
Ripeness: The flavor is highly dependent on ripeness; an unripe fruit will have a less flavorful taste.