What fruit is similar to a grapefruit?

Grapefruits are a delicious and nutritious citrus fruit that have a distinct bittersweet and sour taste. Their flavor profile makes them stand out from other common citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes. If you enjoy the tangy, bold taste of grapefruits, you may be wondering what other fruits have a similar flavor and can serve as good grapefruit alternatives.

Fruits Related to Grapefruit

Grapefruit (Citrus × paradisi) belong to the Rutaceae family, which contains other citrus fruits including oranges, lemons, limes, and pomelos. In fact, grapefruits are a hybrid fruit that originated in the 18th century as a cross between pomelos (Citrus maxima) and sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis).

Some fruits that are closely related to grapefruits and share a similar taste profile include:

• Pomelos
• Oranges – especially bitter/Seville oranges
• Meyer lemons
• Limes – Persian or Key limes

These citrus fruits contain similar amounts of acidic and bitter compounds as grapefruit. They also have a comparable juicy texture and refreshing quality. Let’s explore each in more detail:

Pomelos

Pomelos are one of the largest citrus fruits and the original ancestor of grapefruits. They have thick rinds and juicy, segmented pulp that comes in shades of yellow, pink, or red. The flavor is tangy, mildly sweet, and not quite as bitter as grapefruit.

Oranges

Sweet oranges like navels and Valencias are juicier and sweeter than grapefruit. However, varieties like Seville or bitter oranges are often described as tasting like sour grapefruit. They have a tart, stimulating flavor with hints of bitterness.

Meyer Lemons

Meyer lemons are a cross between lemons and mandarin oranges. They have a distinctly sweeter, fruity aroma compared to regular lemons. However, their juice tastes less sour than standard lemons and mildly bitter like grapefruit.

Limes

Persian or Key limes tend to be smaller but pack an intensely tart, citrusy flavor. They have a bracing acidity similar to grapefruits. Their juice tastes less sweet and has a slight bitterness.

Other Fruits with Comparable Flavors

In addition to close citrus relatives of grapefruit, there are some other fruits that have flavors reminiscent of grapefruit’s bitterness, sourness, and astringency:

Fruit	Flavors
Tart cherries	Sour and subtly bitter
Cranberries	Very tart and slightly bitter
Tamarillos	Sweet-tart and bitter
Kumquats	Sour with mild bitterness
Star fruit	Tart and lightly sweet
Plums	Sweet-tart with astringent skin
Gooseberries	Very tart and bitter when unripe
Grapes	Sweet-tart with bitter seeds

Tart Cherries

Like grapefruits, tart cherries have a mouth-puckering sourness balanced with a touch of bitterness. They contain phytochemicals that give them a subtle astringent quality as well. Montmorency cherries are one popular sour variety.

Cranberries

In addition to extreme tartness, cranberries also have bitter undertones from polyphenol antioxidants. Their mouth-drying effect is similar to grapefruit. Cranberries are rarely sweet enough to eat raw – they are best cooked with sugar.

Tamarillos

This exotic fruit indigenous to South America is also known as tree tomato. When completely ripe, tamarillos have a bold, almost grapefruit-like flavor – sour, sweet, and bitter all at once. Their pulp has a similar texture to grapefruit segments.

Kumquats

Kumquats look like mini oranges but have very sour, astringent flesh. The whole fruit can be eaten – skin and all. The skin has intense bitterness that balances the juice’s sourness, reminiscent of grapefruits.

Star Fruit

Also known as carambola, star fruit has a very tart, crunchy texture similar to grapefruit. Yellow varieties are moderately sour with a grapefruit-like bite, while red ones are typically sweeter.

Plums

There are many varieties of plums ranging from very sweet to mouth-puckeringly tart. Greengages and damson plums are examples of extra sour plums with a grapefruit-like acidity. All plums also have a slightly astringent, bitter peel.

Gooseberries

Under-ripe gooseberries are extremely sour and bitter. Once they fully ripen, they develop a floral, grape-like sweetness while retaining some tartness. Both the flavors and astringent qualities of gooseberries mirror grapefruits.

Grapes

Although most table grapes are sweet, some wine and jelly grape varieties have a brilliant tartness. Concord grapes are a famous example, described as “foxy” thanks to their strong sour-bitter flavor. Just like grapefruit, grapes also contain bitter seeds.

Choosing Grapefruit Substitutes

When selecting an alternative fruit to use in place of grapefruit, consider:

• Citrus fruits like pomelo, oranges, Meyer lemons, or limes for the closest match
• Berries such as cranberries, cherries, or unripe gooseberries for sour-bitter flavors
• Tropical fruits like tamarillos, star fruit, or kumquats for similar texture and bite

The fruit you choose as a grapefruit stand-in will depend on the specific dish and whether you want to highlight tartness, bitterness, juiciness, or aromatics. Adjust other components like sugar and seasonings to balance the flavor profile.

Here are some grapefruit substitution suggestions for popular recipes:

Dish	Grapefruit Substitute Options
Grapefruit salad	Pomelo segments, tart orange sections, fresh cranberries
Broiled grapefruit	Broiled lime halves, tamarillos
Grapefruit pie	Lime juice and zest, sour cherries, cranberries, gooseberries
Grapefruit margarita	Lime juice, sour orange juice, cranberry juice
Grapefruit granita	Lime juice, blood orange juice, sour cherry puree

Tips for Cooking with Grapefruit Substitutes

When using another fruit in place of grapefruit, keep these tips in mind:

• Add more sugar or sweetener to balance very sour substitutes like limes, lemons, and cranberries
• Amp up the citrus zest or extract to mimic grapefruit’s intense aroma
• Combine sweet oranges with sour limes or lemons to achieve grapefruit-like contrast
• Mix in a small amount of bitter ingredients like Campari or Angostura bitters to replicate grapefruit’s bitterness
• Strain out seeds and skins from substitutes like cherries and grapes to avoid excess bitterness

With creative mixing and matching of flavors, you can make delicious recipes using grapefruit alternative fruits. While not exact replicas, they can provide a similar eating experience that grapefruit fans will enjoy.

Grapefruits have an iconic refreshing yet bittersweet flavor. While no other fruit perfectly replicates grapefruit’s intricate taste, many can serve as suitable substitutes. Whether you prefer tangy citrus fruits, bright berries, or tropical flavors, you can find an option that provides a comparable sour-bitter profile. With some tweaking and balance, these grapefruit stand-ins can make tasty additions to salads, baked goods, drinks, and more.