Noshing With the Nolands

What is a Pomelo and How to Eat One?

by 48 Comments

What is a Pomelo and How to Eat One?

If you haven’t tried the glorious pomelo, it’s time to give it a chance. Pomelos are an incredibly under-appreciated member of the citrus family. They look like larger grapefruits, but they certainly are their own creation and worth a try. Learning What is a Pomelo and How to Eat One will change your life.

We love talking about exotic fruits, like Dragon Fruit, Persimmons, or Lychee, and how to use them.  

 

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My best pomelo memories are taking one of these to work when I was nursing. I used to work the night shift and so loved cracking into one of these at 2:00 or 3:00 am. I would share this with my colleagues and everyone loved it when I would bring one in.

It is so refreshing and makes you come alive again. The best part about pomelos is that they’re relatively mess free. They aren’t as juicy as a grapefruit so they don’t make the same kind of a mess.

 

 

What is a Pomelo?

A fruit that goes by many names; pomelos are also called pompelmoes, shaddock, or pummelos. These delicious citrus fruits originated in South and Southeast Asia.

They were given the name of shaddock in the Caribbean after the captain of the East India Company ship that first introduced pomelos to the west.

Pomelo is the largest out of all the citrus fruits with a close relation to grapefruit. The large size can make them look intimidating, but the truth is they aren’t at all.

A lot of the size is the rind and the thick membrane surrounding the fruit itself. Unlike other citrus fruits, the membrane of the pomelo is extremely bitter and considered inedible.

 

 

These large citrus fruits are either round or oval in shape and have a rind that ranges in color from green to yellow with a textured rind. Filled with a creamy white, bright pink or somewhere in between pulpy core, pomelos have a thicker pith than most other varieties of citrus fruit.

Pomelos can either be filled with seeds, have very few or none at all.

In Southeast Asia, pomelos are often served as desserts but they also garnish salads with them.  A popular way to serve pomelos is with a salt mixture on top to cut the sweetness of the fruit.

Pomelos are the largest member of the citrus family (which is why their Latin name is Citrus Maxima – literally the biggest citrus). Like other citrus fruits, pomelos are high in vitamin C. Depending on the variety, pomelos can weigh between 2 and 4 pounds!

 

 

 

What Does a Pomelo Taste Like?

The flavor of a pomelo is very much like the grapefruit, but much milder. Pomelos are sweeter and don’t carry that tangy, bitterness that can be associated with grapefruit.

They are often less juicy though again, that depends on the variety as some can be juicier than others.

 

 

Buying a Pomelo

The best time to purchase pomelos is between the months of November and March. They can be found in most grocery stores or Asian and Latin markets.

Pomelos are a staple fruit in many Chinese and Japanese diets so if there’s a Chinese or Asian market in your neighborhood, chances are they’ll have pomelos.

When trying to buy a pomelo, look for yellow to pale green fruits that are heavy for their size and feel firm to the touch. Avoid soft, dull-colored fruits that look dried out.

Blemishes are ok but you don’t want to choose one that gives easy to applied pressure.

Store your pomelo in the refrigerator so it can last up to 1 week.

 

 

How To Cut a Pomelo

First, you need to carefully cut the cap or top off a pomelo with a sharp knife. The outer peel of the pomelo can be tough.

Then, starting at the cut end, you need to make vertical slices around the pomelo. Eight to ten cuts should do it.

How to Eat a Pomelo

 

sliced pomelo isolated

 

Remove the thick rind and peel the membrane from around each segment. You can score the rind as it is then easier to peel.

You don’t eat the membrane-like you would an orange or grapefruit but just the flesh inside.

Pomelos are great in salsas, salads, marinades, juiced, made into jam or just right out of your hand.

Enjoy them the same way that you would enjoy any of your favorite citrus fruits. In fact, you can even use the peel in marmalades or candy it and use it as a garnish.

Another popular way to serve pomelo is to roast it in the oven, with some unsalted butter on top.

If you have a recipe that calls for grapefruit, oranges, or even pineapples you can substitute a pomelo instead.

There are many ways to enjoy a pomelo. If you haven’t tried one as of yet, now is the time! Make it a family affair and have everyone try apiece. They’ll be asking for more in no time!

Also, check out some great citrus recipes like Mascarpone Key Lime Mini Pies, Lavender Lemonade, and Oranges en Surprise which is all great for spring and summer!!

 

Comments

  1. Amy says

    Wow, these are much larger than I expected! They have such a thick skin but citrus like interior. I would love to add it to my bucket list of things to try.

    Reply

  6. Belinda Ketchum says

    This fruit reminds me of a citrus fruit called “ja-bong” , which is also large, similar rind but lite yellow on the inside and a bit tangy like a grapefruit.

    Reply

  7. Daniel Baker says

    I had experienced this fruit in the phippines in 1977 and it seems the called it something SOUNDING close to sheshu. May have been a territorial name, around Iba. Anyone?

    Reply

  9. Dick Reed says

    I just bought 5 pomelos. Hiway 95 just east of Yuma. A very nice Mexican family
    has a fruit and veggie stand on the north side of 95. These pomelos are sweet and verry
    juicy. $1.50 each. ENJOY

    Reply

  11. Gabriel Rojas says

    I bought a house last year that has a pomelo tree in the back yard. Although I had known about pomelos my whole life, the first time ever trying one was last year when one fell off the tree. The pomelos on my tree are HUGE! Mine are easily 2 lbs and some could be close to the maximum of 4 lbs. There is very little “fruit” inside and it isn’t the most pleasant thing I’ve ever tasted but I now use them for juicing and for cocktails like greyhounds using these instead of grapefruit. They’re also good for putting into smoothies or juices.

    Reply

  12. Atul kumar says

    Hi everybody. I have this fruit at my home here in India. if any body wish to have it they can contact me. my cell number is 9574699983

    Reply

  15. Corine Van Holten says

    I love Pomelo . It’s a very fat free snack. I peel it completely. After eating it, feel full. I first notice this fruit in “Traded Joe’s and recently found it at Stop and shop. I love it, love it

    Reply

  16. Anne says

    I hadn’t heard of pumellos until 2 days ago, a friend gave me one to try. It is really good, just like a very mild grapefruit and really delicious. Today I bought 3!

    Reply

  18. Roger Sroka says

    Had our first Pomelo today and loved the taste and texture.
    We live near Chicago and saw them for the first time at our Mariano’s for $1.79 each.
    I had no idea what we were buying but never pass up a chance to try something new.
    Not knowing what we were getting into I cut off both ends and sliced off the rind after I saw how thick it was. Then proceeded to slice down the membrane on each side of the fruity part and ate the slices.
    It was a lot of fun and when I was alone in the kitchen the fruit was like pages in a book which I attacked with my mouth using my teeth to scrape the fruit off of the membrane. Delicious!
    These will be a regular over the winter in our household!

    Reply

  20. Eric Hardwood says

    These are called pummelos in our area. They are found very abundant here. You have shared a very clean method of eating this. I have been peeling it in the wrong way. 😀
    Thanks for the Guide!

    Reply

  21. Michael Jordan says

    Wow, when I first saw this fruit, I really was intimated. But upon reading this article, I gained the courage to finally try this riveting fruit. I tasted it, and let me tell you my life has changed. This is truly a gift from the Lord himself. I am truly astounded that I have not tried this fruit before. My dog ate this fruit and he was brought back to life for the second time, after he was hit by the semi truck back in 2015. Thank you to those who recommended this. I have finally gained the will to live again.

    Reply

  22. Kathy Chigbrow says

    We live in Northern California and in 2004 planted a “grapefruit” tree. When it started to produce we were very disappointed in the huge fruit with a thick rind. For 10+ years we discarded the fruit. Then in 2020 I realized it was a Pomelo tree and shared the fruit with a person on the neighborhood blog Nextdoor. She raved about them.
    My husband brought some fallen fruit in yesterday and was going to throw it in our garden waste. Instead I decided to try it.
    I cut it in half like a grapefruit, cutting between the membranes. Delicious. I ate both halves. I have now printed the recipe for Candied Pomelo Peel. Excited to try that too.

    Reply

  23. Barbara Montague says

    Do you know if it is okay to eat these if you take blood pressure medicine?I can’t eat grapefruits, but love them. This might be a terrific substitute.

    Reply

  24. Fiona says

    Came here as we have a pomelo tree in the garden that has been overly productive this year. Thank you for the tips! Might try it as a gin garnish too 😂

    Reply

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