Pomelos (Also Called Pummelos) Are Large, Round, Green Citrus Fruits with Bright Pink Flesh Inside. They Are Often Compared to Grapefruits Due to Their Size and Flavor, but Grapefruits Are Actually a Hybrid of Crossbreeding Pomelos and Oranges. Specialty Produce Explains That Pomelos Are the Largest of All Citrus Fruits, Ranging in Size from That of a “Baby Cantaloupe to Almost Basketball Size. ” They Originated in Southeastern Asia and Malaysia, but Are Also Grown in Warm Regions of the Western United States from the Fall to the Spring. They Grow on Tall Trees That Also Produce Large, White Flowers Valued for Their Sweet Fragrance and Used to Make Perfume. Though They’re Relatively Common and Accessible Today, Historians Note That Pomelos Were Highly Prized Status Symbols in Ancient Rome. Fruit Fit for Royalty!

What Do Pomelos Taste Like?

Upon Slicing Open a Pomelo for the First Time, You Might Be Stricken by How Similar It Looks to a Grapefruit. It Is Rosy Pink and Membranous Inside. Its Pith, However, Is Much Thicker and Spongier Than That of a Grapefruit. Its Taste Is Similar as Well, but Sweeter and Less Tangy. Specialty Produce Notes That It May Be Acidic or Sweet, but Pomelos Never Taste Bitter. It Smells Fresh, Clean, and Heavily Floral, Which Contributes Some Floral Notes to Its Flavor as Well (A Taste of Springtime in the Middle of Winter!). Texturally, It’s Like Most Other Citrus Fruits — Pulpy, Juicy, and Soft. Eating a Pomelo Is a Familiar Enough Experience to Not Be Strange, but Different Enough to Be Exciting.

Because of Its Similarity to Grapefruit, You Can Eat It in the Same Traditional Way: by Slicing It in Half and Scooping the Segments out with a Spoon. This Might Be the Easiest Way to Tackle a Pomelo Due to Its Size, but You Can Also Cut It into Slices Like You Would an Orange. Whatever You Do, Don’t Throw Away the Peel — Because It’s So Thick and Fragrant, It Is Often Candied. Pomelo Fruit Is Delicious on Its Own, but Pairs Well with Thai and Asian Flavors, According to Specialty Produce, as Well as Seafood, Garlic, Chiles, Peanuts, and Coconut.

What Are the Health Benefits of Pomelos?

Like Other Citrus Fruits, Pomelos Boast a Wealth of Health Benefits. According to Medical News Today, 100 Grams of Peeled Pomelo Contains:

What to Know Before You Eat Pomelos

Before You Throw a Few Pomelos in Your Shopping Cart, There Are Some Health Concerns to Be Aware Of. Yes, They Have a Lot of Health Benefits — But, Like Grapefruits, Some Components of Pomelos May Interact with Prescription Drugs. These Components May Increase the Amounts of Medication in Your Bloodstream to Potentially Toxic Levels or Make the Medication Less Effective. the Food and Drug Administration Recommends Avoiding Grapefruit and Pomelo If You Take Medications Including, but Not Limited to:

What You Need to Know About Pomelos

By Maya Lin-Takahashi

• Oct 8, 2026 • 6 min read

Direct Answer • Key Takeaway

Have You Ever Walked into the Grocery Store in the Fall or Winter and Been Intrigued by the Huge Green Fruit Nestled Among Its Much Smaller Citrus Cousins? That Jolly Green Giant Is the Humble Pomelo, a Citrus Fruit That’s Botanically Related to the Grapefruit. If You’ve Tasted It, You Know It’s Worth Taking Home. but If You’re Unfamiliar with Pomelos, Here Are Some Basic Things You Should Know About Them.

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Consumer Tech & Gadget Reviewer

Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.

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