3 Tips to Choose the Best Pomelo

It is the season when the pomelo is fragrant again. The Tainan District Agricultural Improvement Station of the Council of Agriculture said that pomelo is rich in nutrients such as dietary fiber, vitamin C and various minerals. This year, there is sufficient sunshine and rainfall, and the flesh is fuller and plumper. There is also plenty of time to "dissipate water" after harvesting, so that the flesh gradually becomes softer, and the flavor and taste are sweeter. It’s best to try it in early autumn. It’s nutritious and delicious, so you don’t have to wait until Mid-Autumn Festival.

Wendan pomelo is rich in nutrients such as dietary fiber, vitamin C and various minerals. This year, there is sufficient sunshine and rainfall, and the flesh is fuller and plumper. (Photo provided by Tainan District Agricultural Improvement Station)

The Tainan District Agricultural Improvement Station provides special selection tips, which teach you how to pick the best grapefruit from the appearance, color, shape, and weight. Associate Researcher Zhang Wenzhao from the Tainan District Agricultural Improvement Station said that since the quality of pomelo is affected by the age of the plant and the cultivation management, the quality of the fruit varies greatly. If you want to pick out a delicious pomelo that is "smooth and juicy", you should first choose based on "appearance and color." The oil cells on the peel should be smooth and delicate, and the appearance should be yellow-green. The finer the texture of the flesh, the better the taste.

Secondly, judge the quality by "shape". The shape of the fruit should be wide at the bottom and pointed at the top, with an open bottom and concave inwards, forming a short triangle, and the fruit should be straight and not crooked. The above are the best quality. At the same time, "weight" is also very important. When you hold the fruit in your hand, it should feel heavy, which means that the flesh is well developed and contains more water. The best weight is around 400 to 600 grams. If consumers want to taste the fruit immediately, they should choose fruit with light yellow skin. If they want to store it for a long time before enjoying it, they should choose fruit with slightly yellow-green skin. They should be placed in a ventilated and cool place, and can be stored for 1 to 2 months.

Associate Researcher Zhang Wenzhao emphasized that the flowering period of pomelo was normal this year, the sunshine and rainfall were sufficient during the fruit growing period, and the flesh was fuller and plumper. Generally, the harvest period for pomelo fruit is about one week before the White Dew (September 7). Due to the leap month in the fourth month of the lunar calendar, the White Dew is farther away from the Mid-Autumn Festival (September 30) this year. There is ample time to "drain" the water after harvesting, so that the flesh gradually becomes softer and the flavor and taste become more delicious.

The Tainan District Agricultural Improvement Station stated that Wen Dan pomelo was originally a specialty of Madou District in Tainan City, so it was named after the place Madou and became the academic name "Madou Wen Dan". (Photo provided by Tainan District Agricultural Improvement Station)

Wen Dan pomelo was originally a specialty of Madou District in Tainan City, so it was named after the place Madou and became the academic name "Madou Wen Dan". Currently, there are about 4,000 hectares of pomelo cultivation in the country, with production areas concentrated in Tainan City, Hualien County, Miaoli County, Yilan Line, New Taipei City, Taitung County and Yunlin County.

In order to improve the quality and competitiveness, various production areas have named their products after the local places. For example, the well-known "Madou Wendan" and "Douliu Wendan" have completed the registration of the production area group trademark. The farmers' associations in the production areas are actively organizing publicity and promotion activities. Consumers can enjoy the high-quality agricultural products of local farmers through trademark certification. Consumers should break the idea that pomelo is a seasonal fruit for the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is also a good fruit choice in daily life. Please enjoy more high-quality domestic pomelo, which is delicious, nutritious and healthy.