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Grapefruit is the fruit of a tree (Citrus paradisi) belonging to the family of the Rutaceae (lemon, mandarin ...). It is believed to a natural hybrid between sweet orange and pummelo (a different species) produced in Barbados, West Indies. From there, its cultivation spread throughout the Caribbean and then to the United States where it was adapted to full-scale production. In fact, the US is the largest producer of this citrus fruit, with over two million tons per year. Next come countries such as Argentina, Cuba, Cyprus, Mexico, Mozambique and South Africa.

Features
Looking very much like the orange, but larger, the skin is generally yellowish though there are varieties that are pink and green. Under the skin, the pulp is divided into 10 or 12 segments, full of juice, and with a tone ranging from yellow to red.

There are many varieties of grapefruit but the most common are:

- Yellow grapefruit. The most common of all. Medium-sized and a smooth pale yellow. It has large amounts of strong, acidic juice.

- Pink Grapefruit. Smaller, with pink and orange skin. The pinker, the sweeter the pulp and juice.

The grapefruit’s flavor is very distinctive, being less sweet than the orange, less acidic than the lemon but somewhat bitter.

How to buy
The main appeal of citrus fruits is their high juice content. So it always pays to choose fruit that seem heavy relative to their size. This indicates that they contain a large amount of juice. When choosing fruit, you should discard those that show signs of bruising, as the grapefruit easily deteriorates.

In the kitchen ...
You can consume all the grapefruit (as wedges, or sliced in half) with honey or sugar to reduce bitterness, or as a juice. It is also great in jams, syrups, jellies, and is an ingredient in all sorts of interesting salads and fruit salads. Its flavor blends well with other tropical fruits like pineapple or mango.

How to keep grapefruit
The grapefruit keeps well at room temperature (in a cool place) for one to two weeks. Inside the refrigerator it can be kept from between 20 to 30 days. Both the pulp and juice can be frozen.

Did you know?
Like other citrus fruits, grapefruit is a great source of vitamin C and antioxidants. It is recommend to stave off the so-called "free radicals" and prevent the onset of degenerative diseases.