Pomelo

Pomelo fruits in tree

Main distribution of pomelo is in South-East Asia and some other Asian countries. Also some pomelos can be found in the Mediterranean region, and in tropical America and Australia.

Pomelo fruits are usually eaten fresh, or the fruits are used to make pomelo juice. Fruit pulp of the pomelo is also used in salads, for example Thai spicy pomelo salad. The peel of pomelo can be used to make candies.

The pomelo fruit is the largest of all citrus fruits. It has a very thick rind (much thicker than in any other citrus) and is filled with a sweetish yellow or pink flesh.

Names

Scientific
   Citrus maxima
Synonym
   Citrus grandis
English
   Chinese grapefruit
   Lusho fruit
   Pomelo
   Pommelo
   Pompelmous
   Pummelo
   Shaddock
Dutch
   Pompelmoes
Spanish
   Cimboa
   Pampelmusa
   Pomelo
French
   Pamplemousse
   Pamplemoussier
   Pomélo
German
   Adamsapfel
   Pampelmuse
   Riesenorange
Italian
   Pampaleone
   Pomelo
   Pummelo
Other
   Jabong

Taxonomy

Genus
   Citrus
Family
   Rutaceae
Order
   Sapindales

Basic information and facts

Origin:

South-east Asia, Thailand Malaysia

Distribution:

Some Pomelos can be found in the Mediterranean, tropical America and Australia, but its main distribution is in South-East Asia and some other Asian countries

Evergreen or deciduous:

Evergreen

Flowers:

Large flowers of 3-7 cm in diameter, either single or in small clusters, with cream colored petals.

Leaves:

Pomelo has the largest leaves among all citrus.

Fruits:

The fruits are pale green to yellow when ripe. Pomelo is a big citrus fruit (larger than grapefruits), 10-25 cm in diameter, with a thick spongy rind. The flesh is sweet. Pulp vesicles are large with a yellow or pink color.

Climate and weather:

Grows in tropical and near-tropical climates. Prefers hot and humid climate conditions.

Pollination:

Height:

Trees are often 5 to 15 meter tall.

Spacing (close range)

6 meter

Spacing (wide range)

8-10 meter

Propagation:

Usually grown from seed.

Insect pests:

No serious insect pests, but sometimes attacked by leaf miners, some leaf eating caterpillars, scale insects, mites, and fruit fly.

Diseases:

Generally no disease problems. Some known diseases include canker and root rot (Fusarium, Phytophthora).

Harvesting:

At maturity the fruits are hand picked. They can be stored for several months.

Uses:

Eat the fruit fresh or use it to make juice. Fruit pulp is also used in salads. The peel is used to make candies.

Proverbs and Quotes

“Wow, how much did your breast implants cost?”
“Oh, they’re not implants! I just found and easier way to carry my pomelos.”
I’ve been enamored with this sweet, delicious treat, the pomelo.

Did you know that?

Pomelo is the largest of all citrus fruits, it can sometimes be 30 cm wide and weigh more than 3 kg.

Recipes

Pomelo salad

Ingredients:
1 large pomelo, 1 red chili, 1 clove garlic, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, 1 stalk lemongrass, 2 limes, some fresh coriander

Preparation:
Peel and segment the pomelo. Crush the garlic. Slice the lemon grass (fine) and the chili. Squeeze the limes. Prepare a dressing from chili, garlic, honey, fish sauce, lemon grass and line juice. Mix this dressing in a bowl with the fruit and decorate it with fresh coriander.

Spicy pomelo salad

Ingredients:
Pomelo 1 cup.
Prawn or boiled breast chicken.
Dried shrimp.
Fried dried coconut.
Fried peanut.
Red onion 3 pieces.
Red chilies.
Mint leaves.
Tamarind juice or lime juice 2 tablespoons.
Fish sauce ½ tablespoon.
Sugar ½ teaspoon.

Instructions:
Clean pomelo and split the juice sac 1 cup.
Clean prawn and cook in the hot water then keep it in a container, or boil the chicken breast and tear it to small long pieces.
Prepare vegetables by clean them all. Cut red onion in thin slice and chop chilies and pinch off the mint leaves.
Prepare sauce by mixing the fish sauce, sugar, tamarind juice or lime juice and chop chilies. Then adjust the taste as you like.
Add cooked prawn or chicken into the sauce.
Put the pomelo into the big bowl, add sliced red onion, dried shrimp, dried coconut and peanut, mix them well then add the sauce, mix it and adjust the taste again.
Serve in the nice plate and decorate the food with mint leaves.

Crop categories

Fruits
Food crops
Tropical crops
Subtropical crops

Pictures