Are Ruby Red Grapefruits Sweet?

“Sweet” generally isn’t the first word that comes to mind when thinking about grapefruit. Despite its nutritional grapefruit benefits, pleasing color and refreshing scent, grapefruit has a reputation for tasting sour and bitter. Horticulturalists have worked hard to develop varieties that are sweet and tangy rather than unpleasantly acidic. Eventually, their labors bore fruit – specifically, white, red and pink fruit!

Grapefruit colors do not refer to the skin of the fruit, but the flesh inside. No matter which type of grapefruit you select, the texture does not differ, and all have a unique, easily identifiable taste.

What exactly is grapefruit?

Believed to be a cross between a pomelo and a sweet orange, grapefruit did not gain its individual status until the 1830s. Today there are many different types of grapefruits. Here are a few of the best known:

• White grapefruit. White grapefruit has a creamy yellow rind with no blush in it and white flesh. It is the least sweet of all the grapefruit varieties. When you slice it open, the first thing you will notice is its intense aromatic smell that radiates in the room. White grapefruit is a tasty addition to juices, fruity drinks, and even syrups.

• Pink grapefruit. Pink grapefruit looks similar to white from the outside expect for a faint blush on the yellow rind. The flavor is rich and bright, and the fruit is virtually seedless. Pink and white grapefruit are equally tart, yet most people prefer pink grapefruit because of the perceived sweeter taste. The two differ mostly in that pink grapefruit contains more beta carotene, which is responsible for the reddish hue. Beta carotene has been linked to lower rates of cancer. White and pink grapefruit contain 80 to 105 milligrams of vitamin C.

• Red grapefruit. Like pink grapefruit, red grapefruit also has a blush to its rind. The lovely red color of its flesh comes from lycopene, an antioxidant. Red grapefruit is noticeably sweeter than white grapefruit, despite the fact that they have comparable sugar content. The biggest difference between white and red grapefruits is in vitamin A content. Red grapefruit has significantly higher levels of this nutrient.

• Ruby Red grapefruit. Star ruby grapefruit has a yellow skin and a very deep red flesh. There is a saying that, in grapefruit, the redder the flesh, the sweeter the taste. Ruby Red grapefruit certainly bears this out – most people who have eaten this grapefruit have said that this is one of the most delicious grapefruits that have ever tasted, with a lovely sweet and sour taste.

What is grapefruit good for?

The first thing many people think of when they hear the word “grapefruit?” “Weight loss.” The so-called “grapefruit diet” implies that the fruit has some sort of fat-melting property that actually enhances weight loss. While this is not the case, it is true that grapefruit can be an important part of a sensible weight loss plan. In a single serving, grapefruit calories come out to just 52, and the water and fiber content of the fruit help you to feel full. Then there’s grapefruit’s many health benefits.

Is Grapefruit Good For You?

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice benefits are many. Grapefruits are good for your heart, keep you hydrated, as they are 90% water, strengthen your immune system, help you lose and maintain your weight, lower your cholesterol levels, and decreases stress levels. The pith (the white spongy part of the grapefruit) also contains lots of soluble fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. It can also reduce the risk of colorectal cancer as well lower blood sugar levels. Even grapefruit oil (extracted from the glands in the fruit’s peel) is growing in popularity among aroma therapists for its ability to balance the mood, suppress the appetite and lower stress!

How to eat grapefruit.

Now that you know how many calories in a grapefruit, you may find you want to make it a regular part of your diet (especially sweet varieties like the Ruby Red). You can eat it fresh by using a serrated grapefruit spoon (also known as a “grapefruit knife”) or add it to many different recipes (including sauces, salads, smoothies and seafood dishes).