They are available in UK supermarkets between May and October. Modern grapefruit varieties, particularly red, no longer require sugar, as they are naturally sweet enough. Some delicious varieties to look out for are:
Marsh grapefruits are seedless and have pale-yellow peel and flesh. They are extremely juicy and rich in flavour.
Star Ruby has a yellow peel distinctly red-blushed and has an intensely red flesh. The texture is smooth and the taste is sweeter than many other varieties.
Rosé has a rich blush red colour to the flesh and rind. They have a sweet flavour and fewer seeds than other varieties.
How to choose: When choosing a grapefruit, choose one with a bright, smooth skin colour, with no noticeable blemishes. The grapefruit should be firm and fairly heavy for its size. The heavier the grapefruit, the more juice it contains.
How to eat: Grapefruits are delicious eaten fresh and make a great healthy breakfast. They can also be used in savoury salads, and sweet desserts such as cakes, tarts and sorbets. Grapefruits also make a tasty ingredient in cocktails and juices. For some fantastic recipe suggestions, please visit the recipes page.
Health and nutrition:
Just half a grapefruit counts as one of your 5-a-day and they are also packed full of other great health benefits:
- An excellent source of Vitamin C (36mg per 100g)
- High in Potassium and Folic acid
- Low in fat and calories
- Rich in antioxidants, which help to improve our immune systems
Many red fruits and vegetables such as red and pink grapefruits are coloured by a pigment called lycopene, an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body. Lycopene has been known to assist with memory and reduce the risk of cancer. Another powerful agent found in red foods is called anthocyanin, which is known to reduce heart disease and serve as a strong antioxidant.
[Source: The Composition of Foods, sixth summary edition, by McCance and Widdowson]
