⭐️ Star Ruby Grapefruit ｜Introduction and flavor
Appearance and taste [STAR RUBY] Ruby grapefruit is a round citrus fruit, slightly flat in shape, sometimes slightly pointed at the top, about 8 to 10 cm in diameter, slightly smaller than most grapefruit varieties. The peel is thick, bright yellow to orange in color, with a rose orange-red hue on the surface. The peel is smooth, shiny, and covered with small holes (lenticels). It is rich in aromatic essential oils and emits a strong citrus aroma when peeled or shaved.
The flesh is deep orange-pink and divided into juicy triangular lobes that are plump and juicy, and usually have few or no seeds. Star Ruby grapefruit is sweeter than most, with a tart, sweet, and slightly fruity flavor.
🕒 Season and availability
Availability varies by region:
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United States and Israel : Late Winter to Early Summer
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Middle East and Southern Europe : Late fall to spring
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South Africa : Summer to Autumn
🌿 Basic Information
The scientific name of Star Ruby grapefruit is Citrus paradisi , which belongs to the Rutaceae family, the same family as oranges, lemons, citrons, etc. This variety is also called "Sunrise grapefruit". It was bred in 1970 by irradiating Hudson grapefruit seeds, successfully breeding a fine variety with deep red color and few seeds. This was the first successful use of radiation breeding methods, and it also paved the way for the subsequent development of Rio Red grapefruit - Rio Red's flesh color is 5 times darker than the original variety.
Although it originated in Texas, the Star Ruby grapefruit has found greater success in South Africa. In 1972, the seeds were introduced to South Africa and widely planted by Dr. Anton Hough, becoming a key variety in the local grapefruit industry. This variety is now mainly used for eating and foodservice applications.
💪 Nutritional Value
Star Ruby Grapefruit is rich in vitamin C, which helps to enhance immunity and skin health. It also contains vitamin A, which helps vision and cell growth, and dietary fiber, which helps digestion and maintain weight.
In addition, it is rich in flavonoids (such as naringin, hesperidin, and rutin), which have antioxidant effects, help reduce inflammation and improve cardiovascular health. Other antioxidant components such as flavonols and anthocyanins also greatly enhance the fruit's ability to protect cells.
It also contains lycopene, which may reduce the risk of certain cancers and heart disease, and beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body and helps support eye health.
🍽 How to eat
Star Ruby grapefruit is suitable for eating raw. It has a refreshing taste and rich juice. It often appears on breakfast plates. It can be eaten alone or sliced with muffins, waffles, yogurt, and cereal. Its juice is often used to make salad dressings, jams, syrups or sauces.
Slices can be added to salads, such as cucumber, watercress, blood orange, avocado, pistachio, fennel, etc., the flavors complement each other. It is also suitable for meats such as veal, spiced ham, or steamed salmon. It can also be used as a flavoring for desserts such as sorbet, soufflé, panna cotta, or cookies.
The juice or pulp is also great in cocktails, smoothies, margaritas, sangrias, teas or cold drinks.
Recommended flavor combinations : strawberry, honey, basil, Italian cheese, jasmine, grapes, kiwi, pear, pomegranate, beet, mint, watermelon, lemon, lime, cherry tomato, celery, ginger, walnut, poppy seed salad dressing, Hollandaise sauce, etc.
🎬 Cultural background
The grapefruit diet became popular in Hollywood. American actor James Cagney popularized the diet in the 1930s when he starred in the movies "The Public Enemy" and "Hard to Handle". The scene in "The Public Enemy" where he smashed a grapefruit into the face of the heroine made the fruit a household name. "Hard to Handle" directly portrayed the plot of using grapefruit to lose weight.
The 18-day diet quickly became a popular weight loss craze and was said to have been promoted by actress Ethel Barrymore at the LaSalle & Koch Tea Room in Toledo, Ohio, in the late 1920s.
🌍 Geography and History
The Star Ruby grapefruit was bred in 1959 by Dr. Dick Hensz at Texas A&I University and commercialized in the early 1970s. The variety was a huge success in South Africa and became one of its most important exports.
Grapefruit originated in Barbados and was introduced to Florida via Mexico, where it became an important cash crop in the 1820s. It has since spread around the world, with major producers now including China, Mexico and South Africa.
Star Ruby grapefruit prefers a Mediterranean climate, with plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil. As a hybrid, it does not grow naturally in the wild, but is widely grown in gardens, supermarkets and farmers' markets in the United States, China, Vietnam, South Africa, Australia, Israel, Turkey, Spain and Cyprus.
