Grapefruit

History and origin

Grapefruit (Citrus maxima) and pomelo are often confused, although they are distinct. Grapefruit, a fruit native to Asia, is large, pear-shaped, and has bitter, inedible pulp. Discovered by the Dutch in Jamaica around 1800, it was cultivated in the West Indies by the Dutch West India Company. In Barbados, a natural cross between the grapefruit and an orange tree gave rise to the pomelo, a new, sweeter species. Today, pomelo is often called “grapefruit”, although it differs from this ancient fruit.

Variety and cultivation

Grapefruit grows in subtropical zones. This shrub grows to 6 m and blooms in spring with fragrant white flowers. The fruits ripen in winter, with varieties like the juicy grapefruit, the sweet pink pomelo, and the tangy red bloodroot. Not hardy, it does not tolerate frost.

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