Pomelo, grapefruit, pomelo - these citrus fruits all look quite similar and taste similar. The terms pomelo and grapefruit in particular are often used synonymously. But there are more or less big differences between these three types of citrus.
What is the difference between pomelo, grapefruit and pomelo?
The pomelo is the largest and original citrus fruit, while the grapefruit is a cross between the pomelo and the orange and the pomelo was created from the pomelo and the grapefruit. Grapefruits are sweet and sour and more bitter than grapefruits.
Pomelo as the ancestor of many citrus species
In total there are around 400 different varieties of the citrus family in the world, although only a few are known in this country. However, these are not always independent species, because many varieties are merely crosses or backcrosses, especially from the grapefruit, mandarin and citron varieties. These three types of citrus belong to the original varieties, as do the kumquat.
Pomelo as the origin of grapefruit and pomelo
The grapefruit, on the other hand, is a cross between grapefruit and orange, which probably originated in Barbados in the 18th century. Today the grapefruit is cultivated worldwide in tropical, subtropical and Mediterranean climates. The main growing areas are Florida, the Philippines, the Caribbean Islands, Israel and South Africa. The pomelo, in turn, was created by crossing the pomelo and the grapefruit.
Pomelo – The largest of all citrus fruits
The original grapefruit produces the largest fruits: they can weigh up to two kilograms. The pulp of the grapefruit can take on very different colors, with reddish or pink colored fruits usually tasting sweeter. The striking color comes from the carotenoid lycopene, which accumulates in the pulp at very high summer temperatures. Real grapefruits have a sweet and sour taste, although they are also significantly more bitter than grapefruits.
Confusing species names
Although the three citrus fruits mentioned are different varieties, it is difficult to differentiate precisely - it is made difficult by a colorful confusion of languages. For example, the English name “grapefruit” is gradually replacing the name “grapefruit,” which originally comes from Dutch, even though it is not the same fruit. The confusion is also great in other languages:
- In English the grapefruit is not called grapefruit, but pomelo.
- In Spanish, the grapefruit is called pomelo.
- Same in French.
He althy citrus fruits
But whether it's pomelo, grapefruit or pomelo: In addition to the more or less sweet-sour to slightly bitter taste depending on the variety, all of these fruits have something else in common: They all have comparatively few calories and a lot of vitamin C. Here are the nutritional values in direct comparison.
Nutritional values of grapefruit
100 grams of fresh grapefruit contain on average:
- 46 kcal
- 9, 44 grams sugar
- as well as fat and protein in negligible proportions
- 61 milligrams of vitamin C
- lots of B vitamins and folic acid
- 270 micrograms of vitamin E
- as well as calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus
Nutritional values Grapefuit
100 grams of fresh grapefuit contains on average:
- 50 kcal
- 8, 95 grams of sugar
- Fat and protein in negligible proportions (but slightly more than with grapefruit)
- 44 milligrams of vitamin C
- lots of B vitamins (especially vitamin B3 with 240 micrograms and vitamin B5 with 250 micrograms)
- Folic acid
- 250 micrograms vitamin E
- as well as calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus (but less than in grapefruit)
Nutritional values Pomelo
100 grams of fresh pomelo contain on average:
- 48 kcal
- 8 grams of sugar
- Fat and protein in negligible proportions
- 41 milligrams of vitamin C
- lots of B vitamins
- as well as calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron and phosphorus
Tips & Tricks
Real grapefruits are difficult to find in German supermarkets and if you do come across one, it will probably be sold under the name “Grapefruit”. However, compared to the more orange-yellow grapefruit, pomelos have a quite greenish or yellowish skin, and they can also be pear-shaped.
