Fun facts about the big round citrus fruit

Harness the power of this tart-sweet and bitter fruit and help lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol. Mostly thought of in its glass-of-juice form, grapefruit can be so much more.

One thing is, it’s versatile — you can eat it on its own for a refreshing and bracing breakfast starter, chopped into salads, or topped with a splash of allspice-scented sugar, broiled till bubbly, for a sophisticated brunch item.

It can act as a stand-in for lemon in savoury dishes, especially those with chicken or fish, as well as a fab feature in fresh desserts. We love a grapefruit sorbet, which can make a for a refreshing change from the usual lemon or raspberry options. Check out these interesting fruity facts about the versatile fruit.

1. Grapefruits can be white, pink, or red. The taste can also vary from sweet to sour depending on the variety. White and pink varieties tend to be tart, while reds are sweeter.
2. Most people cut them in half and use a spoon to scoop out the insides. You can also peel them like an orange.
3. Grapefruit trees take between 6 months and 13 months to produce fruit. It wasn’t until the 1800s they were renamed “grapefruit” because they grow in clusters similar to grapes.
4. Many citrus fruits originated in Asia, but grapefruits came from the Caribbean in the 1700s. They were originally called “forbidden fruit” or “Shaddocks” after Captain Shaddock who bred them.
5. A whole grapefruit is 92 per cent water and eating it is just one way of keeping your body hydrated.
6. It’s a citrus fruit, which is a great source of vitamin C and vitamin A, two things your body needs to stay healthy and recover after an illness, such as a cold.
7. Dark pink and red grapefruit is slightly more nutritious than yellow or white grapefruit.
8. Store a grapefruit on your counter if you’re going to eat it soon. It tastes best at room temperature. For longer storage, put it in the fridge.
9. The grapefruit was created accidentally when a sweet orange was crossed with a pomelo, a large citrus fruit. This hybrid was created in the 1700s in Barbados.