Pomelo is a fruit that is both tasty and nutritious. The scientific name of pomelo is Citrus maxima or Citrus grandis. Also known as Chinese grapefruit, pomelo is a giant citrus fruit, and the largest citrus fruit in the Rutaceae family and the grapefruit’s main ancestor. It is a fruit native to Southeast Asia. The pomelo, which has a taste similar to that of a sweet grapefruit, is widely consumed and utilized for many occasions throughout Southeast Asia. The pomelo, like the grapefruit, has the potential for medical benefits. Pomelos can be a substitute for grapefruits. They can be used in every way that grapefruits can be used. They are high in both vitamin C and potassium. Pomelos vary in color, ranging from dark green to yellow. It is grown primarily in Southern Thailand, Southern China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Southern Japan, Southern India, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea and Tahiti.
Pomelo tree can grow to be 16–50 feet tall, with a crooked 4–12 inch thick trunk and low-hanging, uneven limbs. The petioles of the leaves are winged, with alternating, oval shapes 2–8 in long, a leathery, dull green outer layer, and a hairy underleaf. The blossoms are aromatic and yellow-white in color, and they can be single or in clusters.
The fruit is big, that has a diameter of 6–10 inches, and weighs 1–2 kg. It has a thick rind, and is separated into 11 to 18 segments. The flesh has a light grapefruit flavor, with slightly bitter taste (Grapefruits are a cross of the orange and the pomelo). The chewy, bitter wrapping membranes that surround the segments are inedible and are normally eliminated. The light yellow to coral-pink flesh can range from juicy to fairly dry, and from delightfully spicy-sweet to acidic and sour. There are a lot of different types of pomelo to choose from. Most pomelos usually have a small number of seeds that are rather large, although some pomelo variety have numerous seeds. In this article, we will discuss about the different types of pomelos that are widely available in Asian grocery stores or Asian markets. If you want to learn more about these pomelo varieties, scroll down and keep reading.
Types Of Pomelo
White Pomelos
White pomelo is an Israeli pomelo variety. It belongs to the Citrus Grand family. It is an extremely large fruit with juice saccules, unusually thicker peel, sweet flesh, and a distinct odor. White pomelo is commonly served as a snack to aid digestion. Pomelo is harvested between mid-October and mid-May, with August being the prime season in Malaysia.
African Shaddock Pomelos
African shaddock pomelos are round citrus fruits with a diameter of 15 to 25 cm. It has a greenish yellow to light yellow rind with a soft-textured pith. Its flesh is segmented, displaying a luscious and fragrant rosé pink flesh colour. Low acidity gives African shaddock pomelos their sweet and sour flavor.
African shaddock pomelos are abundant throughout the winter. When at least half of the skin has changed color, the pomelos are ready to be harvested.
Red Pomelos
Red pomelo has a softer and thinner skin as compared to other pomelo varieties. The Red Pomelo is delicious, tart and sour, with pink pulp and a slightly more compacted shape. This type of citrus fruit is rich in potassium and vitamin C. It is originated in Malaysia and considered to be the ancestor of the grapefruit. This juicy fruit ripens between September and January.
Pink Pomelos
Pink pomelo has a large number of seeds and is both sweet and juicy. The pink pomelo is a beautiful fruit with pink flesh. It can also be used to treat worms in the stomach and intestines.
It is suggested to store the fresh fruit in a cool place. Pomelos keep fresh for several weeks, however they lose their juiciness. A sliced pomelo or only the flesh can be preserved in the refrigerator for a few days wrapped in cling film.
Pink pomelos are eaten fresh. The flesh can be eaten as is, but is also perfect in salads, juice, desserts, and smoothies.
Red Shaddock Pomelos
Red Shaddock pomelo originated in Africa. Unlike any other citrus types, the Red Shaddock boasts a rich, dark red flesh with an extraordinary flavor. The flavor combination is sweet and pleasant with a somewhat acidic aftertaste. For many citrus fruits lovers, the ruby-colored citrus fruit is a favorite. Peeling the rind is simple, and it is smooth and yellow in color.
Tahitian Pomelos
Tahitian pomelo looks like a lemon, but it doesn’t have the same taste. It has a bright yellow rind and a rich yellow flesh. Tahitian is by far one of the greatest tasting types of pomelo. It has an extremely sweet flavor profile. Despite the fact that this pomelo has a lot of seeds within, it is fairly juicy and delicious fruit.
Several pulpy flesh segments are enveloped in the pith, which are separated by white fibrous membranes. The delicate, watery, soft, and chewy flesh has a floral scent and is pale yellow to lime green in color.
Tahitian pomelos are sweet, and have a slight tangy flavor that works well in both raw and cooked dishes. The bitter rind, pith, and membranes are removed from the pomelos, leaving only the pulpy meat to be eaten. Alternatively, the fruits can be halved and the flesh scraped off the rind with a spoon, much like a grapefruit. Tahitian pomelos can be put into salads, cut into ceviche, or served with other citrus as a bright accent to grilled meats and enhance the flavor.
Pomelo Hybrids
Pomelo hybrids, like any other fruits, are quite prevalent. Fruit hybridization (controlled speciation) has been done for decades. The approach involves plant reproduction to create new varieties of tasty pomelo. Hybridization a pomelo can improve the flavor, texture, and appearance of the original fruit. Most of the popular fruits have been hybridized to some degree. Take a look at some of the pomelo hybrids that are available worldwide.
Melogold Pomelo
Also known as Melogold grapefruit. It is a citrus hybrid that is a product of a cross between a Siamese sweet pomelo and a white grapefruit. This fruit is like a sweet grapefruit. Melogold, just like oroblanco, can be eaten with a grapefruit spoon or peeled like an orange.
Melogold, unlike other types, will not fall from the tree until it is completely ripe.
Chandler Pomelo
Another type of pomelo hybrid. This pomelo is a cross between the Siamese Pink pomelo and a Siamese Sweet pomelo. These types of pomelo are notable for their huge size and circular form. The hue of the rind varies from yellow to yellow-pink. The flesh is pink to dark pink on the inside. Furthermore, the flesh of the Chandlers can have various distinct flavors within the same fruit.
Oroblanco Pomelo
Oroblanco pomelo is a hybrid between white grapefruit and Siamese Sweet. It is associated to Melogold, but Oroblanco has a sweeter flavor. When compared to Melogold, the consistency is better. During summer, Oroblanco ripens with exceptional sweetness and is often smaller than most pomelos. An Oroblanco is around the size of a grapefruit or a big orange.
Valentine Pomelo
It is a hybrid of three citrus fruits, blood orange, Siamese sweet, and mandarin orange. When split in half, the fruit takes on the shape of a heart.
Valentine pomelos are typically cylindrical, with a projecting neck at the stem end. It is pear-shaped. The rind is dark yellow and easy to peel, with a vivid crimson flesh. The fruit is juicy and sweet, especially when compared to more acidic citrus, and has a considerable amount of seeds. When other pomelos are ripe, they have a light green color, however when the rind of valentines pomelo is a uniform yellow, it means it is already ripe.
Cocktail Pomelo
Also known as Mandelo. This variety of pomelo is a hybrid of Siamese sweet and mandarin orange. It is a delicious, juicy fruit with a yellow to orange skin and pink to orange flesh that is perfect for drinks. It is an excellent snack to keep on hand. This hybrid fruit originated in California.
Nutrients In Pomelo
Fresh pomelo contains 89 percent water, 10% carbs, 1% protein, and contains very little fat. A 100 gram serving of this item contains 38 kcal of energy, and is packed with vitamin C. (73 percent of the Daily Value).
Conclusion
With that said, pomelos are rich in minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, making it a nutritious addition to your diet. Pomelo fruits are also high in fiber. These fruits significantly boost energy metabolism and maintains a healthy body weight, preventing overweight or obesity, which aggravates diabetes.