Citrus fruits have long ceased to be in short supply throughout the post-Soviet space. Now on the shelves there are not only oranges, lemons and tangerines, but also miniature kumquats and clementines, and huge pomelos.
Considering that these citrus fruits appeared on the market about a decade ago, they still remain exotic. Even the name is sometimes pronounced incorrectly, with the emphasis on the last syllable. Correctly pronounce the name of the fruit pomelo with an emphasis on the letter "e".
How to peel pomelo fruit
To enjoy the fruit, you need to properly peel it, for this:
1. The fruit must be washed and dried well.
2. Cut off the top.
3. Make vertical cuts approximately 3-4 cm across the entire area of the fruit;
pick up and separate each “petal” of the peel.
4. Divide the peeled fruit into slices.
5. Make a cut along the narrow part of the lobule and separate the membranes.
6. Place the peeled slices on a plate.
They can be eaten as an independent dish, or can be used to prepare sauces and salads, because pomelo does not have a very strong taste and goes well with meat and various vegetables. This fruit will definitely add benefits to the dish.
Pomelo fruit, description
The Russian version of the name of the pomelo plant and its fruit is associated with the English word pomelo, which, in turn, comes from the Dutch words for apple - melon. In addition, the fruit is called sheddock, in memory of the English sailor Shaddock, who in the 17th century brought the seeds of this plant to one of the islands in the Caribbean, and a few years later the plant came to Europe. You can also find the names swollen lemon or large citron.
Pomelo is an evergreen tree from the Citrus genus of the Rutaceae family. They are quite tall, their height is from 8 to 15 m. The crown is rounded, the leaves are elongated, dense with elongated stipules. The trees bloom with large white flowers. This happens two to four times a year. The flowers are white and large. They can be located one at a time or be collected in inflorescences from 2 to 10 pieces. The fruits are large, their diameter can be over 30 cm, and their weight is more than 3.0 kg. If we look at the pomelo fruit in cross-section, we can distinguish the following parts:
- colored layer of peel or zest;
- a white, rather thick layer that surrounds the pulp or core; in pomelo it is from 10 mm to 30 mm;
- thin, transparent membrane films that divide the pulp into segments;
- succulent cells under membranes or pulp.
The first mention of the plant dates back to the 1st century BC and is associated with China, where the fruits of the pomelo were served at the imperial table. No wild ancestor of this plant has been found. Most likely, hybridization occurred by chance and a very long time ago.
Gradually the plant spread to southern and southeast Asia. Currently, pomelo is grown in China, Thailand, South Africa, Brazil, the southern USA, Israel and Japan. There are several varieties of this fruit, they are characterized by the following shape:
- pear-shaped;
- spherical;
- spherical, flattened.
The color of the peel is most often yellow-green or green; there are fruits with a pink blush. The flesh may be light yellow or pink. The taste is not very bright, sweet, sour-sweet, there may be a slight bitterness. In order not to spoil the first impression of the pomelo fruit, you need to not only choose it correctly, but also clean it correctly.
How to choose and peel pomelo fruit
Pomelo fruit selection
When choosing a pomelo, you need to know that the harvest of this fruit begins in December and ends in March. The peak of the season is in February, therefore, the highest quality and freshest fruits appear on the shelves during these months.
When purchasing, you need to pay attention to the size of the fruit. You should not purchase extremely large fruits, but small ones can be ignored. It is advisable to buy a fruit weighing from 1 to 2 kg.
The skin of the fruit should be smooth, without signs of rot or dark spots. In some varieties, some wrinkling of the skin is acceptable during long-term storage. Most often, fruits are sold in film or in a net. It won't hurt to feel them. They should not be too soft or hard. When pressing at the top, the fruit should be elastic. If you smell the fruit, it should give off a rather pleasant smell. If the selected fruit corresponds to the description given, then you can safely purchase it.
The benefits and harms of pomelo fruit
The main benefit of pomelo fruit is its high vitamin C content and low calorie content. It is enough to eat 120-130 g of the pulp of this fruit to satisfy the daily requirement of an adult for this vitamin. This fruit also contains vitamins B, A, and E.
The calorie content in 100 g of pomelo does not exceed 38 kcal, this makes it possible to use the fruit in low-calorie diets. We can recommend the use of this citrus to patients with diabetes. It perfectly cleanses blood vessels and lowers cholesterol levels. It is useful to eat pomelo:
- to strengthen the immune system;
- for the prevention of strokes and heart attacks;
- to reduce body weight.
- to reduce the risk of thrombosis and atherosclerosis.
It is harmful to eat pomelo fruit for people with allergies, acute diseases of the liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract.
