#POMELLO GRAPFRUIT HYBRID SKIN#

The physical and chemical characteristics of pomelo vary widely across South Asia. Citrus maxima is usually grafted onto other citrus rootstocks outside Asia to produce trees that are identical to the parent high-quality varieties are propagated by air-layering or by budding onto favored rootstocks. Seeds can be stored for 80 days at a temperature of 5 ☌ (41 ☏) with moderate relative humidity. The seeds of the pomelo are monoembryonic, producing seedlings with genes from both parents, but they are usually similar to the tree they grow from and therefore pomelo are typically grown from seeds in Asia. In East Asia, especially in Cantonese cuisine, braised pomelo pith is used to make dishes that are high in fibre and low in fat. The fruit may have been introduced to China around 100 BCE. In the Philippines, a pink beverage is made from pomelo and pineapple juice. In large parts of Southeast Asia where pomelo is native, it is commonly eaten as a dessert, often sprinkled with salt or dipped in a salt mixture, but it may instead be made into salads. In Sri Lanka, it is often eaten as a dessert, sometimes sprinkled with sugar.

#POMELLO GRAPFRUIT HYBRID SKIN#

In Brazil, the thick skin may be used for making a sweet conserve, while the spongy pith of the rind is discarded. The juice is regarded as delicious, and the rind is used to make preserves, or may be candied. The fruit generally contains a few, relatively large seeds, but some varieties have numerous seeds. The enveloping membranes around the segments are chewy and bitter, considered inedible, and usually discarded. The flesh tastes like mild grapefruit, with a little of its common bitterness (the grapefruit is a hybrid of the pomelo and the orange). It has a thicker rind than a grapefruit, and is divided into 11 to 18 segments. The fruit is large, 15–25 cm (6–10 in) in diameter, usually weighing 1–2 kilograms (2–4 pounds). The flowers - single or in clusters - are fragrant and yellow-white in color. Their leaf petioles are distinctly winged, with alternate, ovate or elliptic shapes 5–20 cm (2–8 in) long, with a leathery, dull green upper layer, and hairy under-leaf. The pomelo tree may be 5–15 meters (16–50 feet) tall, possibly with a crooked trunk 10–30 centimeters (4–12 inches) thick, and low-hanging, irregular branches. The fruit is also known as jambola in varieties of English spoken in South Asia. From there the name spread to Jamaica in 1696. In English, the word 'pomelo' (also spelt pummelo, pumelo, pomello, pommelo) has become the more common name, although 'pomelo' has historically been used for grapefruit.Īfter introduction into Barbados by 'Captain Shaddock' of the East India Company (apparently Philip Chaddock, who visited the island in the late 1640s ), the fruit was called shaddock in English. Its botanical name, Citrus maxima, means 'the biggest citrus'. As with the grapefruit, phytochemicals in the pomelo have the potential for drug interactions.Īccording to the Oxford English Dictionary, the etymology of the word 'pomelo' is uncertain. Similar in taste to a sweet grapefruit, the pomelo is commonly consumed and used for festive occasions throughout Southeast Asia. It is a natural, non-hybrid, citrus fruit, native to Southeast Asia. Oro Blanco, Chandler and Tahitian are some of the more common pomelo varieties you’ll find at the farmers market.The pomelo ( / ˈ p ɒ m ɪ l oʊ, ˈ p ʌ m-/ POM-il-oh, PUM- Citrus maxima), from the family Rutaceae, is the largest citrus fruit, and the principal ancestor of the grapefruit. The membrane between the segments is thicker and tends to be bitter. Pomelos taste similar to grapefruit but are slightly sweeter. However, they do have one thing in common – they’re both delicious. There are striking similarities and dubious differences between these two citrus giants. Pomelos can have a half-inch to three-quarters of an inch of rind and pith. The pomelo is larger at first, but once peeled, the fruit is about the same size as a grapefruit. The most obvious difference between pomelos and grapefruit is the scene-stealing size. Pomelos crossed with oranges give us grapefruit. Crosses between these three citrus varieties are the foundation of almost all citrus seen today.įor example, pomelos crossed with mandarins give us oranges. It’s what’s called an “ancestor fruit.” Mandarins and lemons are also ancestor fruits. The funny thing is the non-hybrid pomelo is an oldie but goodie, having been on the stage for hundreds of years. Grapefruit has been available on restaurant menus and family tables since the 1950s, but pomelos have not been mentioned very often. This month, I want to spotlight the differences between grapefruit and pomelos.

Pomello grapfruit hybrid