From pomelo to grapefruit

Cinzia Cuneo 30 gennaio, 2010

Originally published in Journal de Montréal on January 30, 2010.

Did you know that the grapefruit you eat for breakfast is commonly known as pamplemousse in French, although it should in fact be called pomelo; the French term pamplemousse actually refers to the English pomelo, Chinese grapefruit or Shaddock.

Confused? It’s quite simple really. First came the pomelo. Cultivated mostly in South East Asia, it is rarely found in our local markets. It is a large, pale green or yellow pear-shaped fruit with a thick peel. The seeds of the pomelo were brought to Barbados around the 17th century, and the hybridizing between a pomelo tree and an orange tree resulted in what we call today the grapefruit!

Grapefruit is very rich in antioxidants; the red and pink varieties contain more than the white variety. Having said that, consumption of grapefruit or its juice can interfere with certain medicines, by increasing or diminishing their effect on our bodies. So it is always better to check with your doctor or pharmacist first.

Try our Mixed Lettuce Salad with Grapefruit recipe.

Autori

Cinzia Cuneo

Italiana di nascita e canadese d'adozione, Cinzia ha deciso di coniugare le sue competenze professionali e la sua passione per la buona tavola sviluppando un servizio per aiutare i numerosi «aventi bisogno» a riprendere il controllo della loro alimentazione. Così è nata SOSCuisine. Ingegnere di formazione al Politecnico di Torino, Cinzia ha conseguito un Master's Degree in scienze applicate all'École Polytechnique de Montréal.