It is estimated - exact numbers are not known - that there are around 400 different types of citrus in the world, of which only a few are known in this country. However, the vast majority of these citrus plants are the result of crosses, so that the species are more or less closely related to one another. All types of citrus go back to the three ancestors: grapefruit, mandarin and citron.
What is the difference between pomelo and grapefruit?
Difference between pomelo and grapefruit: Pomelos are a subspecies of pomelo and are larger than grapefruits. Pomelos taste sweeter and have a thicker skin, while grapefruits have a thinner skin and a more sour taste.
The creation of the grapefruit
The grapefruit, Latin Citrus paradisi, is a young citrus family that probably emerged in the 18th century on the Caribbean island of Barbados as a hybrid of the grapefruit (Citrus maxima) and the orange (Citrus sinensis). The orange itself is a cross between mandarin (Citrus reticulata) and bitter orange (Citrus aurantium), with the latter once emerging from grapefruit and mandarin. The family history of citrus species is complicated and difficult to understand, so it's no wonder that it keeps happening Confusion comes. By the way, in German usage the pomelo is equated with the grapefruit, even though they are different types.
Grapefruit varieties
There are grapefruits with light flesh and those with reddish to deep red flesh. The intensity of the coloring provides information about the sweetness of the fruit - the darker the flesh, the sweeter it is. Among the light grapefruits, “Duncan” is both the largest and the best in taste – juicy and very aromatic, sufficiently sweet and with lots of seeds. That is why it is slowly being replaced by the almost seedless marsh grapefruit as a fresh fruit and is mainly grown for juice production. The red-fleshed Star Ruby grapefruit is a very attractive container plant, although the New Zealand grapefruit is much more suitable for cultivation in our latitudes. This mildly aromatic variety requires less heat than other grapefruits.
The Pomelo
The term “pomelo” usually refers to two different types of grapefruit. On the one hand, “Pomelo” is the English name for the pomelo, which is originally native to Southeast Asia. It is mainly cultivated in Thailand, Malaysia, southern China (here under the name honey pomelo) and Indonesia. The other type is classified as a pomelo, but is a cross between pomelo and grapefruit. This pomelo is sweeter than a grapefruit.
The Hirado Buntan Pomelo
This type of pomelo is not a cross, but a real pomelo and is one of the most popular types. It is a very vigorous grapefruit with extremely large, dark green leaves. Its flowers appear in large spikes with up to 20 individual flowers. The variety is more cold-resistant than most other grapefruits. The sweet, aromatic fruit ripens very early, as early as December. In addition, the plant is very fast-growing, forms a wide bush and therefore makes an impressive pot plant.
Tips & Tricks
Numerous varieties have emerged from crossing between mandarin and grapefruit or mandarin and pomelo. All of them have very aromatic fruits that can be classified between their parents in terms of taste.