This big bittersweet fruit was first documented in 1750 in Barbados by Rev. Griffith Hughes, but it was James MacFayden, in his Flora of Jamaica, in 1837, who first separated the grapefruit from the pummelo (a kind of citrus), giving it the botanical name, "Citrus paradisi" i.e. "fruit of paradise". Then, in 1948, citrus specialists suggested that it was an accidental hybrid between the pummelo and the orange despite the fact that it is rather closer to the first than the second.

The resulting name "grapefruit" was given in 1814, and it reflects the way it's arranged when it grows-hanging in clusters just like grapes.

Grapefruit is also said to be one of the "seven wonders of Barbados". In 1823 it was brought to Florida and further crosses have produced the other species as the seedy 'Duncan', a variety used for juice production, but also in the oil essence market; the 'Marsh', smaller variety developed in Florida in the late 1800s containing fewer seeds, was first promoted as the 'Marsh Seedless' and now it is the most cultivated and worldwide spread.

Finally the pink type includes a large range of varieties, among which the most famous are: 'Ruby', 'Ruby Red', 'Shary Red', 'Red Radiance', and 'Webb': all of them are seedless and the colour ranges from slightly rosy to deep red. If you want to taste all the features of a typical grapefruit but you can't bear its bitter tang, 'Sweetie' is perfect for you; as its name claims, its flavour is unexpectedly sweet; it has been known since 1984, when this strange hybrid was created in the Citrus Marketing Board in Israel.

Today one the major producers of grapefruits is Florida where the trees were planted in the early nineteen century. In the US, other countries that produce grapefruits commercially are California, Arizona and Texas. Other great productions are in South Africa, Brazil and Israel.

Properties and benefits

Among the citruses, grapefruit contains a huge concentration of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to support the immune system, reduces cold symptoms, prevents the oxygen free radical damage that triggers the inflammatory cascade, and reduces severity of inflammatory conditions, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Drinking grapefruit juice reduces the risk of calcium oxalate kidney stones. In fact, according to a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, drinking ˝ to 1 litre of grapefruit juice daily significantly drops the risk of forming calcium oxalate stones. In a recent similar study, it results that drinking grapefruit juice daily lows the blood levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglycerides as well.

Grapefruit lows insulin levels and so may help prevent weight gain.

In addition, from its flowers an essence is prepared which taken before sleeping overcomes insomnia and can also be used as a stomachic and cardiac tonic.

On the whole, enjoying grapefruit lengthens our life and makes it better, as the star system actors perfectly know. Indeed, a famous popular grapefruit weight-loss diet is also known as 'Hollywood diet'.

The Grapefruit Diet

This diet instructs you to eat half a grapefruit at each meal - and not much else.

• The claim:Grapefruit has a special fat-burning enzyme. Sample lunch: Half a grapefruit, two eggs, two cups of cucumber-and-tomato salad, one piece of dry melba toast, and plain tea or coffee.
• Weight-loss wisdom: As demonstrated by this meager 245-calorie lunch, the grapefruit diet lops off weight by restricting your calories, not by providing your body with some special enzyme. While you wouldn't want to follow this diet forever, its foundation is fairly healthful, says Jackson.
• Healthful take-away: Grapefruit is full of antioxidants and vitamins - just like other fruits and vegetables. Up your intake by including produce in every meal, as this diet instructs.

Good advices to enjoy grapefruit

Grapefruit juice is used as an ingredient for many cocktail recipes, and you can find some of them in our cocktail list, but now we want to give you some advices to eat and taste grapefruit in some different way.

If you want to taste a really unique salsa combine diced grapefruit with cilantro (leaves of the coriander plant) and chili peppers.

In order to give a simple salad recipe an exotic taste, just add 2 ingredients: two whole grapefruits, two avocados. For the preparation, peel grapefruits in sections, place them in a medium bowl; squeeze juice from membranes over fruit. Then peel avocado and remove pit, cut into large pieces and gently toss with grapefruit in bowl. Finally sprinkle with nuts and drizzle with salad dressing.

For a bittersweet dessert, a great recipe is the following:

The grapefruit sorbet Ingredients: 350 g sugar, 250 cc water, 500 cc strained, fresh red or pink grapefruit juice. Preparation: mix the sugar and water together in a saucepan. Place over low heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Let boil for 30 seconds without stirring. Remove from heat, pour into heatproof bowl and cool completely. When it is refrigerated, cover and chill 1 hour. Pour the grapefruit juice into a large bowl and stir with the syrup. Cover and put into the freezer. When well chilled, transfer to an ice-cream machine and process according to manufacturer's directions. Cover tightly and freeze, then serve. And in perfumes?

There is a widespread usage of the grapefruit essence, that is obtained by cold press of the peels.

The essence of grapefruit is tonic and euphoric, it contrasts mental and physical exhaustions, tones the skin and the muscles, stimulates the lymphatic system and stimulates appetite.

Its fragrance provokes euphoria, helps to stimulate self esteem and the conscience of one's value.

Worn as a perfume, the aroma of grapefruit helps to eliminate bitterness, jealousy, frustration, indecision and being disheartened.

A few drops of grapefruit's essence in the bathtub are counselled to overcome stress and jet-lag. Finally, this essence is a real panacea when employed in aromatherapy, that is treating with aroma through inhalation. Essential oils, because of their fragrance and volatility, have been reported to help create greater spiritual, physical and emotional harmony when inhaled.

Aromatherapy Uses

Euphoric and cleansing, great for refreshing your environment. In skin and body care it benefits oily or congested skin, improves elasticity and has diuretic properties.

Antiseptic (especially airborne), anti toxic, astringent, bactericidal, diuretic, stimulant-lymphatic, tonic general

Skin: athlete’s foot, acne, oily skin, tones congested skin, tightens skin, aids hair growth, cellulite(?)

Respiratory: airborne disinfectant-diffusion

Muscular/Skeletal: eases muscle fatigue, stiffness

Cardio-vascular/Lymphatic: increases circulation, stimulates lymphatic system

Immune: colds, chills, flu, environmental disinfectant

Digestive: internally: stimulates gall bladder, digestive aid, liver tonic, useful in anorexia/bulimia, regulates body weight if used regularly(?)

Genito-Urinary/Reproductive: increases urine flow, eases water retention, obesity, aids cellulite(?)

Nervous Brain/Mind: depression, headache, performance stress, jet lag, PMS, alcohol and drug withdrawal

Emotional/Energetic: uplifting and euphoric, it increases self-esteem and bolsters confidence

Blends well with: Basil, cedarwood, citronella, fennel, frankincense, juniper, geranium, ginger, lavender, lime, orange, palmarosa, ylang ylang