Pomelo: Pomelo Fruit Nutrition, Pomelo vs Grapefruit and Safety

Pomelo is generally considered the largest citrus fruit, a thick-skinned, pale green or yellow fruit with sweet, mild segments that can weigh well over a pound of edible flesh. It is a close relative of grapefruit, and that matters for one important reason: the FDA says pomelos might affect some medicines the same way grapefruit does. This guide covers what the pomelo fruit is, USDA nutrition values, how pomelo vs grapefruit compare on taste and nutrients, how to peel one, and what the research on pomelo and medicines shows.

Peptide Labs does not sell pomelos or pomelo products. This article is general nutrition information, not medical advice.

What is a pomelo?

The pomelo is grown widely in Southeast Asia and China and is sold under several names: pomelo, pummelo, shaddock, and in research Citrus maxima or Citrus grandis. The fruit has a very thick rind and a deep layer of white, spongy pith, and inside are large segments wrapped in tough membranes. The flesh can be pale yellow, pink or red; a 2018 study found that red- and white-fleshed pummelos differ in how they form carotenoid pigments.

Pomelo is also an ancestor in the citrus family tree. A 2018 genomic study in Nature found pummelo ancestry spread widely through mandarins, linked to fruit size and acidity. Researchers who studied pomelo and medicines describe it as a fruit closely related to grapefruit.

Pomelo nutrition: USDA values

The table uses the USDA SR Legacy entry for raw pummelo (FDC 167754). USDA lists a cup of sections at 190 grams and one whole fruit, without rind, at 609 grams. Percent Daily Values use FDA Daily Values.

USDA SR Legacy does not report a total-sugars value for pomelo, so this guide does not invent one; carbohydrate per cup is 18.3 grams. The headline nutrient is vitamin C: one cup of sections gives about 129% of the Daily Value, per USDA. Potassium is moderate, and the fruit is very low in fat. See our guides to foods high in vitamin C and foods high in potassium for other options.

Pomelo vs grapefruit

Pomelo and grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) look related, and they are, but they differ in size, flavor and a few nutrients. USDA values below are per 100 grams of raw fruit.

In short: pomelo has more vitamin C and potassium per 100 grams, while grapefruit, especially pink and red kinds, supplies some vitamin A. Calories and fiber are close. The bigger difference for many readers is safety with medicines, covered next.

Pomelo and medicines: the grapefruit warning

The FDA consumer update on grapefruit explains that grapefruit and grapefruit juice can change how some medicines work. For most affected drugs, grapefruit blocks an enzyme called CYP3A4 in the small intestine, so more of the drug enters the blood and side effects can rise. For a few drugs, such as the antihistamine fexofenadine, it works the other way and less drug is absorbed. The FDA then adds that Seville oranges, pomelos and tangelos might have the same effect as grapefruit juice, and advises not eating those fruits if your medicine interacts with grapefruit juice.

The FDA’s examples of drug types that grapefruit can affect include some statins (such as simvastatin and atorvastatin), some blood pressure drugs (nifedipine), some transplant drugs (cyclosporine), some anti-anxiety drugs (buspirone), some corticosteroids (budesonide), some heart-rhythm drugs (amiodarone) and some antihistamines (fexofenadine). Grapefruit does not affect every drug in these groups, and the size of the effect depends on the person, the drug and how much is eaten. That is why the answer has to come from your pharmacist or your drug’s label, not a general list.

What the pomelo studies found

• 2003 case report: a kidney transplant recipient had a considerable rise in tacrolimus blood levels after eating pomelo. The authors advised people on drugs affected by grapefruit to avoid pomelo and related citrus.
• 2004 lab study: extracts from three Japanese pomelo varieties blocked CYP3A4 activity in human liver tissue samples; the strongest was about as potent as grapefruit, and the weakest much less.
• 2006 trial: in 12 healthy men, pomelo juice taken with cyclosporine raised exposure to the drug by about 19%; cranberry juice did not have a meaningful effect.
• 2015 trial: in healthy Thai men, pomelo pulp raised cyclosporine exposure by about 29% and peak levels by about 36%.
• 2018 review: a review of randomized trials on juices other than grapefruit listed pomelo juice with cyclosporine (higher drug levels) and pomelo juice with sildenafil (lower absorption).
• 2023 analysis: furanocoumarins, the compounds blamed for the grapefruit effect, varied widely across six Chinese pomelo varieties; some had more than grapefruit, others less.

Because pomelos in a store are rarely labeled by variety, you cannot tell which kind you have. The practical takeaway is the FDA’s: if a medicine you take carries a grapefruit warning, ask your pharmacist before eating pomelo. Hemp CBD raises a related question; see our CBD drug interactions guide. Bitter (Seville) orange is covered in our bitter orange article, and herbal enzyme interactions in St. John’s wort.

How to peel and eat a pomelo

1. Pick a fruit that feels heavy for its size, with fragrant, unblemished skin.
2. Slice off the top to expose the flesh, then score the thick rind from top to bottom in several places.
3. Pull the rind and pith away in sections; it comes off like a thick jacket.
4. Separate the segments and peel off the tough membrane around each one. Eat only the juicy flesh.
5. Eat it plain, toss it into salads, or pair it with herbs, chili and lime.

Researchers also study the spongy pith as a source of soluble fiber and pectin, but that work is about food ingredients made from the peel, not the fruit you eat. Human research on eating pomelo itself is scarce. For other fruit comparisons, see kiwi, low sugar fruits and the tiny citrus at the other end of the size range, the kumquat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about a label? Contact us or read our Buyer’s Guide. Food comes first; follow the label and ask a healthcare provider before starting a supplement, especially if you take medicines, are pregnant or have a food allergy. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Last reviewed October 2026.

Related guides: Kumquat: How to Eat Kumquats, Nutrition and Benefits, Low Sugar Fruits: USDA Sugar per Serving, From Lowest to Highest, Foods High in Vitamin C: USDA List of Fruits and Vegetables, Grapefruit: Grapefruit Nutrition, Benefits and Medication.