What is grapefruit?

Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) is part of the citrus family of fruits and is thought to be a hybrid of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and pomelo (Citrus maxima). The first grapefruit tree was discovered in Barbados in the 18th century, and the fruit had yellow pulp with many large seeds at its center. Over time, several varieties have been developed, and today, grapefruits are mostly seedless with pulp ranging from white to reddish pink, depending on the content of lycopene.^[1][2][3] The characteristic aroma and bittersweet flavor of grapefruit are thanks to its content of flavonoids, terpenes, furocoumarins, simple sugars, and organic acids.^[4]