Pomelo vs. Grapefruit: How the Citrus Fruits Compare

A pomelo (Citrus maxima or Citrus grandis) is the largest citrus fruit in the world and a direct ancestor of the modern grapefruit. Pomelos, which taste like sweeter grapefruits, can grow to be the size of a cantaloupe or a watermelon. The pomelo fruit is also known by the names pummelo, pomello, shaddock, jabong, and Chinese grapefruit.

Pull one of these fruits down from a pomelo tree, cut it open with a sharp knife, and you will see that the pomelo peel cloaks a very thick rind and more pith than you’ll find in most other members of the citrus family. The pith is the white tissue between the peel and the flesh of citrus fruits like oranges, tangerines, and lemons.

Pomelos originated in Southeast Asia; countries such as Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Thailand still grow them in abundance. Fresh pomelos appear outside of Asian markets in China, as they are now popular in other parts of the world, especially warm-weather locales like California and Hawaii.

A grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) is a sweet orange and pomelo hybrid that horticulturists believe hails from the Caribbean island of Barbados. An unknown person first crossbred them in the nineteenth century. Since then, grapefruits have become more popular in many parts of the world than their ancestor the pomelo.

Grapefruits are smaller than pomelos but are still much larger than most other citrus fruits—they’re about the size of a closed fist. Their interiors have a more common, smaller amount of pith for a citrus fruit.

Pomelos and grapefruits share common ancestry, appear similarly round, and have a citrusy taste, although they differ somewhat in color and taste. Here are several more ways in which you can compare them:

1. 1. Color: Pomelos generally have pale yellow, orange, or green skin. Grapefruits are bright orange more often than not. As for their edible flesh, pomelos are fairly pale and grapefruits are identifiably red.
2. 2. Nutritional information: Both fruits contain nearly your entire daily value of vitamin C. They also contain vitamin A, thiamine and riboflavin (B vitamins), and lycopene. Both fruits are low in calories but high in protein and dietary fiber.
3. 3. Shape: Pomelos generally look more like pears or teardrops, whereas grapefruits are rounder and have rougher skin.
4. 4. Taste: Both fruits taste similar but have some subtle differences between them. Grapefruits have a more bitter and powerful taste, while pomelos still taste acidic but with a milder taste overall.
5. 5. Uses: You can use pomelo and grapefruit in recipes that require a variety of fruits (like fruit salads). You can buy both grapefruit juice and pomelo juice in grocery stores, although vendors sometimes use the names interchangeably. The same goes for jams, marinades, vinaigrettes, and marmalades bearing the same names. While this is somewhat confusing and not necessarily correct, the basic taste is very similar between the fruits and, thus, between these sorts of products.

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