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Pomelo Fruit – Grapefruit on Steroids?

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I love love love love pomelos. They remind me of a sweet grapefruit on steroids. One pomelo can weigh up to two pounds. But don’t be fooled by the size. They come with some pretty darn thick skin. You may know of them as; shaddock, Bali lemon, or Chinese grapefruit. To me, I know them as a glorious, juice squirting, orb delight.

Pomelo-tree-in-orchard

The fruit of a growing pomelo tree is the largest citrus fruit in the world, from 4-12 inches across, with a sweet/tart interior covered by a greenish-yellow or pale yellow removable peel. The skin is fairly thick and, therefore, the fruit keeps for long periods of time. Pomelo trees are native to the Far East, specifically Malaysia, Thailand and southern China and can be found growing wild on the river banks in the Fiji and Friendly Islands.

The pummelo tree itself has a compact, low canopy somewhat rounded or umbrella in shape, with evergreen foliage. The leaves are ovate, glossy and medium green, while spring flowers are showy, aromatic and white. In fact, the flowers are so fragrant the scent is used in some perfumes. The resulting fruit is borne off the tree in winter, spring or summer, depending upon the climate.

Even though they resemble a grapefruit, they can’t be eaten like one. I was never one to cut a grapefruit in half and use a spoon to remove the inner goodness. I like to work for my food, peeling, pulling, dodging sprays of citrus acid… now that’s my kind of enjoyment. It’s the small things in life… well, unless you are eating a pomelo, then it’s the big things in life.

Exterior Design

Interior Design

How to Select a Pomelo

Like most thick-skinned people fruit, selecting the perfect pomelo is a gamble. The fruit varies dramatically from one to the next, ranging from yellow to pink, juicy to bone dry, seedless to seeds galore, and from sweet to tart. If you are a gambling person, then this fruit is right up your alley.

Culinary Experience

pomelo-segments-on-wooden-table

How to Eat a Pomelo

You can peel them with your fingers, much like you do when eating an orange, but pomelos are a workout. Their skin is considerably thicker and it is much more difficult to dig your fingers into them.

 

 

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