Pummelo

Pummelo (also spelled Pomelo, Pummelo, Pomello), is the largest citrus fruit from the family Rutaceae. It is a natural, non-hybrid citrus fruit, similar in appearance to a large grapefruit, native to South East Asia. It is consumed fresh and used in jams and desserts.

Description

The Pummelo tree grows naturally in South and Southeast Asia. The tree is large and shrubby, very similar to the grapefruit tree but typically has a more compact crown. The leaf of the Pummelo tree is unique among citrus due to its large size and the large petiole, which is an extension of the leaf stalk.

Fruit

The Pummelo fruit is usually pale green to yellow when ripe, with sweet white (or, more rarely, pink or red) flesh. It has a very thick albedo (rind pith), which is connected to the segments and cannot be easily separated. The fruit tastes like a sweet, mild grapefruit, though the typical Pummelo is much larger in size than the grapefruit. It has none, or very little, of the common grapefruit's bitterness.

Cultivation

Pummelo is cultivated in many Eastern countries including China, Japan, India, Fiji, Malaysia, and Thailand. It is also now grown in the Caribbean and in the United States, in California and Florida.

Uses

Apart from being eaten fresh, the Pummelo is also used in a variety of dishes and desserts. It is also used in traditional medicine in China and throughout Southeast Asia.

See also

• Citrus taxonomy
• List of citrus fruits
• Grapefruit