The pomelo (or Chinese grapefruit, pummelo, pommelo, jabong, boongon, shaddock, Jeruk Bali or suha), Citrus maxima (Merr., Burm. f.), also Citrus grandis (L.), is a citrus fruit, usually a pale green to yellow when ripe, larger than a grapefruit, with sweet flesh and thick spongy rind.
Pomelos or trai buoi are everywhere in Vietnam; I’m currently in Da Nang and they are just as ubiquitous as they were down south in Saigon. The fruit’s pith is extremely bitter and thick, but the flesh tastes like a cross between a grapefruit, lemon, and orange. Although it’s difficult to tell from the picture, Pomelos are extremely large. They can grow to be 30 centimeters in diameter and weighing as much as 10 kilograms. A single pormelo costs approximately 6,000 VND. The pomelo is native to South East Asia, but is also grown in California and Florida.
Thanks for the information. I saw these at my local grocery store once and kept wondering why I’d never heard of this fruit before. It’s one of my favorites. Thanks also for telling me when it’s ripe. I couldn’t tell if mine was or not and I didn’t want to waste 2.49 on something I wasn’t going to eat.