Pomelo?

The Pomelo is a curious fruit; green and waxy like an obese lime. I first encountered this fruit two days ago in a seafood market. I was disappointed since the market did not have the type of fish I was searching for. So I began browsing the other goods in this tiny store dominated by fish tanks and ice. There were a few produce items. Few of which were labeled in English.

This is often the case in non traditional food stores. I often joke about the poor or nonexistent labeling. But in all seriousness, it does make you wonder what you are really getting. When it comes to produce I am not so concerned, but I have on more than one occasion purchased something that I knew nothing about. In this case I didn’t even know the name of the fruit.

When I picked it up I was surprised just how light it was. With a bit of a squeeze I could tell it was spongy. Thinking it might be a citrus fruit I gave it the scratch test. A scratch at the top of the fruit released the unmistakable scent of grapefruit. That seemed promising so I proceeded to purchase one. The woman at the counter was confused by my lone purchase, but was unable to utter words to explain it. I asked if it was good. She looked puzzled and shook her head. Good enough I suppose since it was less than a Dollar.

I gazed up behind her to see a television screen displaying a myriad of cameras. Located on a shelf below it several jars filled with peculiar items rested. The prices were quite high and the labels were mostly not in English. The dried scallops and shark fin were labeled in English and left me wondering. Is it legal to sell shark fin? Obviously it is not a sustainable industry. And what do you do with dried scallop?

Moving on, I now have a fruit that I was able to identify as a Pomelo. I acquired it in my search for real foods that I have never eaten. It is my intention to discover the less cherished foods available, but not widely used in modern American culture. So far I have seen there is immense number of plants that we fail to embrace a whole. And if nothing more, I just want to enjoy the tastes of nature that so many of us have not taken the opportunity to explore.

The pomelo (or Chinese grapefruit, pummelo, pommelo, Lusho Fruit, jabong, shaddock[1]) Citrus maxima (Merr., Burm. f.), also Citrus grandis (L.), is a citrus fruit, usually a pale green to yellow when ripe (but also pink or red), with sweet flesh and very thick spongy rind. It is the largest citrus fruit, ranging from the size of an extra-large grapefruit to the diameter of a basketball,[2] and usually weighing between 1 and 2 kg.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomelo