In Suriname we know the world’s largest citrus fruit as the “pompelmoes.” I always thought this was a Dutch word but when I googled the name, I found out that it is indeed called “pamplemousse,” (different spelling, same phonetics), as well as pomelo.
Suriname has a rich variety of tropical fruits and pomelo is one of my favorites. My dad worked at the Department of Agriculture and used to bring fruit home every day. Growing up in the country later on, I was surrounded by at least 10 different fruit trees so there was never a lack of fresh fruit. I learned early on how to pick and peel fruits including “pompelmoes.”
When peeled, the fruit looks like a giant mandarin with large, pink parts. The skin peels off easily, revealing firm, dark pink droplets similar to pomegranate seeds. Very refreshing, this fruit is usually sweet, sometimes tangy. The skin and peel are bitter like that of a grapefruit.
If you ever get a hold of this food at the farmers market, here are the instructions on how to peel it.
1. Cut a cap off the top.
2. Cut 4-6 scores from top to bottom.
3. Grab each part from the top and pull the skin down to the bottom.
4. Pull the pomelo apart from the bottom.
5. Peel the skin off of each part to reveal the pink droplets inside.
Enjoy!
Additional facts: A pomelo contains Vitamins A, D, C, B-6 and B-12 as well as Calcium, Iron, and Magnesium.