HL Dragon Fruit Farm in Sepang
There’s a myriad of tropical fruits cultivated in Malaysia, including the extraterrestrial-like dragon fruit. Over in the district of Sepang in Selangor, near Kuala Lumpur International Airport, you’ll find many orchards growing these purple-fleshed fruits and selling them by the roadside.
But only one of them houses the world’s largest building in the shape of a dragon fruit – 9m-tall, to be precise. That’s HL Dragon Fruit Farm. This family-owned farm goes beyond nurturing the exotic fruit, clinching a world record for it while also serving unique dishes such as Dragon Fruit Nasi Lemak at its in-house restaurant.
A sprawling dragon fruit farm with guided tours
HL Dragon Fruit Farm was established in 2014 by Hong Long International Group. What began as a modest venture to cultivate the dragon fruit has since blossomed into an expansive fruit farm, featuring tourist-friendly twists on its grounds to create a unique agrotourism experience for visitors.
There are plenty of IG-worthy corners at the farm.
While they may all appear the same to the layman, there are four distinct species of dragon fruit that are grown on the farm: Red Ruby, Honey White, Yellow King, and Pink Ruby. Each boasts a unique colour and sweetness, and are all typically harvested between July and September.
The Pink Ruby variety, in particular, was born from meticulous cross-pollination techniques and is something of a star at the farm.
Visitors are welcomed to learn more about the dragon fruit varieties and their exquisite flavours on a 20-minute guided tour, priced RM48/adult and RM28/child. Otherwise, you can explore the farm at your own pace for RM10/adult and RM5/child.
Whether you opt for a tour with a knowledgeable staff or not, you’ll still get to see the farm’s crowning jewel – a 9m-tall dragon fruit, which happens to be the world’s largest building in the shape of a dragon fruit, as recognised by the Guinness World Records.
A glow-in-the-dark gallery with murals drawn by local artist
The dragon fruit is the piece-de-resistance at HL Dragon Fruit Farm. While it may look like just a sculpture to take photos with, it’s actually a building that houses a gallery with information on the dragon fruit and the farm’s history.
Inside the dragon fruit-shaped structure, which was erected in 2021, you’ll discover murals drawn by local artists that depict the various stages of dragon fruit cultivation. As the lights dim, the murals will start to glow in the dark, illuminating the space in a mesmerising blue hue.
When you’re done exploring the gallery, ascend the spiral staircase to reach the top of “dragon fruit”. Here, you’ll be treated to a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of Sepang.
First dragon fruit themed restaurant in Malaysia
Once you start to feel peckish, head to the farm’s in-house HL Restaurant & Cafe that serves local dishes with a dragon fruit twist. It’s dubbed Malaysia’s first dragon fruit-themed restaurant, opening back in 2016 with a farm-to-table concept – every part of the dragon fruit is utilised in its star dishes, from the leaf to the skin.
The must-try dishes are the Jumbo Dragon Fruit Curry Bun (RM30) and Dragon Fruit Nasi Lemak (RM18.90).
The Jumbo Dragon Fruit Curry Bun comprises a jumbo-sized bun with a delicate pink hue from the dragon fruit leaf. It encases a tantalising dragon fruit curry with chunks of potatoes, which unfurl much like a dragon fruit.
Likewise, the Dragon Fruit Nasi Lemak features classic condiments such as a half-boiled egg, anchovies, peanuts, cucumbers, and fried chicken – but the star of the show is the dragon fruit-infused rice twinged in gorgeous purple.
The thirst-quenchers are not to be missed. The Dragon Fruit Smoothie (RM15.90) is adorned with dragon fruit slices and presented in a captivating mist of dried ice, while the Dragon Fruit Juice (RM15.90) is topped with vanilla ice cream and dragon fruit slices.
You can also purchase fresh dragon fruit at the restaurant’s entrance. The Red and Pink Ruby varieties are priced RM10/basket and RM30/basket respectively, while the Honey White and Yellow King varieties are priced at RM14/kg.
Enjoy all things dragon fruit at HL Dragon Fruit Farm
The dragon fruit is already an eye-catching fruit. But have it upscaled in gigantious proportions – we’re talking 9m-tall and 9m-wide – and you have a sight that is truly unmissable. That’s what HL Dragon Fruit Farm has in store for you when you visit with its world-record building in the shape of the exotic fruit.
Address: Lot 7608, Jalan Besar, Batu Satu, 43900 Sepang, Selangor
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 10am-6pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
Contact: 011-3528 7687 | HL Dragon Fruit Farm’s website | Facebook
For more unique spots to check out, read 100-year-old bar in Melaka and Arabica Coffee in KL.
Cover image adapted from: The Smart Local Malaysia