Chinese grapefruit, also known as pomelo, is a large citrus fruit native to Southeast Asia. It has a thick rind and sweet flesh, and can be eaten out of hand or used in recipes. It was brought to the West Indies in the 1700s and is now available in many Asian grocery stores.
Chinese grapefruit, also known as pomelo, Bali lemon, pummelo, pamplemousse, limau besar or shaddock, is the largest of all edible citrus fruits. Native to Southeast Asia, this fruit has been grown for centuries in tropical and subtropical regions as a food source. The flesh of the fruit is somewhat sweeter than a grapefruit, with a tangy aftertaste in some varieties.
If allowed, Chinese grapefruit can grow larger than a basketball, with an extremely thick rind covering a segmented fruit. The skin may be green to yellow, with yellow to pink flesh inside. As a general rule, Chinese grapefruits with pinkish flesh tend to be sweeter, while yellow flesh is more acidic and can be dry. The fruits are eaten out of hand, just like many other citrus fruits, and can also be juiced, added to preserves, and included in desserts. In parts of Asia, the skin is candied as a treat.
In the 1700s, the Chinese grapefruit was brought to the West Indies by a Captain Shaddock, a British sailor who thought the fruit could grow well in the American tropics. This turned out to be correct, and contemporaries took to calling it a grapefruit, referring to the clusters in which the fruit tended to grow. In modern usage, a grapefruit is a cross between a pomelo and an orange, and a tangelo is a cross between pomelos and tangerines.
The thick skin of a Chinese grapefruit takes some effort to penetrate, but some consumers find it well worth it. Once the fruit has been peeled, the segments should be separated and the thick white membrane between the segments should be discarded. After these steps, the Chinese grapefruit is perfectly fine to eat or use in a recipe. Some consumers prefer to taste one segment before preparing the rest, in case they have picked a bad fruit.
Many Asian grocery stores and markets carry the Chinese grapefruit. Look for strong, sturdy specimens that are heavy for their size and free from soft spots or discoloration. Fruits will keep for about a week in the refrigerator, although they can dry out or dry out. People in warm climates that favor citrus can also try their hand at growing Chinese grapefruit at home.
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