It’s not quite clear: grapefruit or grapefruit – is it the same fruit? Or are they two different types? ntv.de asks a nutrition expert.
It tastes bitter, somehow sweet and is considered a superfood: the grapefruit. Like oranges, tangerines and lemons, it is a citrus fruit. But wait a minute: isn’t there also a grapefruit? Or is a pomelo the same as a grapefruit?
“No,” said Harald Seitz, nutritionist from the Federal Center for Nutrition (BZfE), to ntv.de. “The grapefruit is a separate species. The grapefruit, on the other hand, is a mixture of grapefruit and orange.” The grapefruit is a natural hybrid. “It was pure coincidence,” said Seitz. The grapefruit was only discovered on the island of Barbados at the beginning of the 18th century. The grapefruit, on the other hand, comes from Thailand and Malaysia.
And there are huge differences between the two citrus fruits: “A pomelo is much larger than a grapefruit,” says the nutritionist. They can weigh up to two kilograms and reach a diameter of up to 30 centimeters. Grapefruits, on the other hand, weigh between 150 and 350 grams.
The two types of fruit can also be easily distinguished from one another by their shape. Grapefruits are more pear-shaped, while grapefruits are more rounded. The shell of grapefruit can be smooth, but it can also be finely knobbed. It varies in color from greenish yellow, light yellow to yellow-orange. The peel of grapefruit is also smooth, but light yellow to reddish yellow in color. Unlike the pomelo, the grapefruit grows in clusters, hence its name, which means “grape fruit” in English.
Grapefruit is a popular breakfast fruit. All you have to do is simply cut them in half, separate out the segments and scoop them out. The grapefruit, on the other hand, has to be peeled, which is more or less difficult depending on the variety. The individual segments are then broken apart, the bitter skin removed and pieces of it added to the fruit salad.
And what is a pomelo? “This is where it gets a bit difficult,” said Seitz. “The pomelo is a variety of grapefruit, but it also has inheritance from grapefruit, which itself is a variety of grapefruit.” What makes the whole thing even more confusing: “In Spanish, all three, i.e. pomelo, pomelo and grapefruit, are called pomelo,” says Seitz.
The three citrus fruits are similar in terms of their ingredients. “All three are very rich in vitamin C and have a bitter note, which is mainly due to the bitter substance naringin,” explains Seitz. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system in combination with the other vitamins and minerals it contains, such as potassium and magnesium. “The bitter substance naringin stimulates digestion and at the same time makes you feel full,” says Seitz. Therefore, grapefruits are also popular with diets because they are low in calories.
But the bitter substances also have a disadvantage: “They can become a problem for people who take medication regularly.” The reason: the bitter substances block an enzyme in the liver that is actually responsible for breaking down the active ingredients in certain medicines. “This can increase side effects of medication.” Seitz therefore advises people who need to take medication to consult a doctor before consuming grapefruit, grapefruit and pomelo.
Incidentally, oranges are also descended from grapefruits. They are an intricate cross between grapefruit and tangerine. According to a study from 2018, genetic analyzes showed that in oranges, 42 percent of the genome comes from the grapefruit and 58 percent from the tangerine. There is also the bitter orange, which is thought to be a direct cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit. From her, in turn, the lemon commonly used today descends through another crossing with the original lemon Cedrat. A complicated family, these citrus fruits.
(This article was first published on Saturday, December 03, 2022.)
