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Pummelo

Also commonly spelled “pomelo,” this fruit is a citrus native to Southeast Asia. It’s not only the largest citrus fruit, but one of very few “original” citrus fruits — the others being primarily mandarins and citrons, as well as the less taxonomically influential kumquat and papeda — that are actually the ancestor of all other citrus.

Pummelo’s are grown on a pummelo tree and average about 6-12 inches in diameter, but can grow to be the size of a small watermelon.  They typically have a green or yellow rind with flesh ranging from white to ruby depending on the variety. 

Their taste is similar to grapefruit, but the flesh is sweeter and doesn’t have as much of that grapefruit bitterness. (Also, like  grapefruits, pummelos can cause adverse reactions with some medication, so if you have meds and are about to eat a pummelo make sure it’s safe to do so first.) 

Along with the flesh being eaten straight, the rinds can be candied to curb the bitterness of the pith and transform it into a sweet ingredient, similar to other citrus rinds. Nutritionally, pummelos are similar to other citrus fruits in that they’re packed with vitamin C but not a whole lot else. 

You can often find pummelos in Uwajimaya’s produce section.