Have you had pomelo before? It tastes very similar to grapefruit and is one of the largest citrus fruits from the family Rutaceae.
Pomelo is extremely nutritious, making it an amazing addition to your smoothies.
Try my pomelo smoothie with orange and banana!
Explore recipe variations, pomelo benefits, and more below!
Pomelo Smoothie With Orange & Banana
Have you ever had pomelo before? It tastes very similar to grapefruit. And is one of the largest citrus fruit from the family Rutaceae.
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup of peeled pomelo
- 1 cup frozen banana slices
- 1/2 cup orange juice (or coconut water)
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tsp of honey
Instructions
- Peel the pomelo, aiming to remove as much of the white pith around the flesh as possible since it can be quite bitter.
- Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender starting with the frozen banana, followed by the other ingredients.
- Blend for 2 minutes. Avoid blending for too long, otherwise you will end up with a foamy smoothie!
- Serve and drink up!
Notes
Best consumed straight away, however, you can refrigerate and consume it the next day.
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Category: Smoothie
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 221
- Sugar: 26.3
- Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 46.4
- Fiber: 6.4
- Protein: 2.3
Why Use Pomelo In Your Smoothies?
Pomelo contains a lot of Vitamin C and is a great alternative to grapefruit.
It is particularly good to use in your smoothies if you want a slightly different smoothie than your usual berry or banana smoothies.
More reasons to use pomelo in your smoothies include:
- It Offers a Vibrant Flavor: Adds a refreshing citrusy taste to your smoothies.
- It’s Rich in Vitamin C: Which boosts immunity and promotes skin health.
- It Is Low in Calories: A guilt-free addition for weight-conscious individuals.
- High in Hydration: Pomelo is juicy, which helps keep you hydrated
- Provides Natural Sweetness: Enhances sweetness without added sugars.
- It’s Rich in Antioxidants: Fights oxidative stress for overall health.
- Offers Unique Texture: Introduces a unique pulpy texture for a satisfying sip.
And many other benefits too. It is worth trying, so you can see for yourself. I love adding pomelo to my smoothies!
How To Customize The Pomelo Banana Smoothie:
As part of my smoothie recipe development process, I like to test out multiple different variations of the smoothies I create.
I settled for the recipe I have written in this blog post, however, I am also going to share some other variations of this smoothie that I tested.
If you fancy trying something different, try some of these tried and tested variations below:
#1. No Banana Pomelo Smoothie
Not many people like bananas, which is why I tested a variations of this pomelo smoothie without bananas!
Instead of bananas, use 1 cup of frozen pineapple or mango!
#2. Vegan Pomelo Smoothie
I used a bit of honey in the recipe written in this post, but honey is not suitable for vegans!
To make this pomelo smoothie vegan-friendly, do not use honey, rather leave it out completely, or replace it with maple or agave syrup.
#3. Protein Boost
Boost your pomelo smoothie’s protein content by adding a scoop of plant-based protein powder or Greek yogurt.
I tested both, and while I liked both, I preferred the Greek yogurt version better. Either way, the choice is totally yours!
#4. Power Greens
Infuse your pomelo smoothie with greens by adding a handful of spinach or kale for extra vitamins and minerals.
Top tip: Always make sure you use organic greens since they are on the dirty dozen list!
Popular Questions From The Smoothie Community
When I shared this pomelo smoothie recipe on my Instagram, I was surprised by how many people haven’t tried a pomelo smoothie before.
This is why a lot of my community members there had questions regarding the recipe and pomelo in general.
Some popular questions included:
Can You Eat Pomelo Skin?
You can eat pomelo skin, however, the taste isn’t very pleasant. It’s best to eat the internal pomelo flesh for the best taste. You can, however, boil the pomelo skins and consume the juice, which is very nutritious.
What Does Pomelo Taste Like?
Pomelo tastes sweet and mildly tangy flavor with floral undertones. Its taste is a blend of citrusy sweetness, reminiscent of grapefruit but milder and less bitter. The texture is juicy and succulent.
How Do I Peel Pomelo For Smoothies?
I like to peel pomelo the same way I peel grapefruit; remove the outer skin by slicing it with a knife, then remove the inside white bits around the flesh by hand. The more you can remove, the less bitter the pomelo will taste.
Where Can I Buy Pomelo For Smoothies?
I always buy my pomelo at my local Walmart. I recommend that you check at your local Walmart and look for pomelo. If you cannot find it there, it's worth checking your local food markets or Chinese shops.