While some people are not too fussed on the somewhat bitter taste I personly enjoy them and would like to learn a lot more about them. So after some research online and offline I bring you ten of the most interesting facts about Grapefruits I could find…
FACT 1: Grapefruits Are Not Just One Fruit, But Two!
Grapefruits are not a naturally evolved fruit, instead, it is a hybrid originating in Barbados as an accidental cross between two introduced species, sweet orange and pomelo.
FACT 2: They Come in a Range of Colours
It’s not just orange that they come in. Other types of grapefruits come in other colours like pink, white, green and even gold colours!
FACT 3: Grapefruits Are Always Hand Picked
Due to the way they are grown and the thickness of the stems grapefruits are always hand-picked no matter where they are grown. While many other fruits can be mechanically harvested this is not one of them.
FACT 4: They Grow The Same as Grapes!
While grapefruit trees are far taller and larger than grape vines, they do grow in the same manner via clusters of fruit which is almost the same average weight and size as a cluster of grapes!
FACT 5: It Was Once Called The Forbidden Fruit!
When it was first discovered in Asia in the seventeenth century it was nicknamed the “forbidden fruit” due to how exotic looking and tasting it is.
FACT 6: Grapefruit Makes Most Medication Useless!
Have you ever seen the warning on your tablets that says “don’t take with grapefruit”? If you have you might have wondered why. It’s because of an enzyme that grows in the intestines which helps the body consume medication and grapefruit inhibits this rendering most medications useless.
FACT 7: Grapefruits Are Mostly Made of Water
In fact, it has more water inside each grapefruit than most other fruits. Most types have as high as 92% water making it a great fruit to stay hydrated.
FACT 8: Grapefruit Varieties Have Amazing Names!
There are many different varieties of grapefruit, but some of the more interestingly named ones are Ruby Red, Star Ruby, Oro Blanco, Pink, Rio Star, Thompson, White Marsh, Flame, Duncan and Pummelo HB!
FACT 9: Grape Fruits Are Not Even Fruits!
Botanically classed a grapefruit is a berry, not a fruit! I have to say it is the biggest berry I have ever seen, but then again I am no expert in botanicals.
FACT 10: China Produces almost 50% of the Worlds Grapefruits!
In fact, last year they grew 3,800,000 metric tons of grapefruits and with 8,040,038 metric tons consumed worldwide it does work out to almost half.
Do you know of any other facts about grapefruits? If you do why not share them in the comments below and let your knowledge of them be known to the world.