One of the most beautiful and useful plants of the citrus family is sweetie. The fruits of this tree can be used in preparing delicious dishes, skin care products, and also for the prevention of many diseases.
Appearance
Sweetie fruit is a hybrid obtained by Israeli breeders by crossing white grapefruit and pomelo. This plant has another name - oroblanco.
In appearance, Sweetie is smaller than a pomelo and more reminiscent of a green tangerine, the size of a grapefruit, with a pronounced citrus aroma.
The skin of the fruit remains green even after full ripening. The pulp is identical in structure to the pulp of white grapefruit - pale yellow in color, practically without seeds. It tastes sweet and sour like a pomelo.
Sweetie is sweet and sour, like a pomelo
Chemical composition
The pulp contains:
- fiber;
- microelements: magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and calcium;
- ascorbic acid;
- ester oils.
Sweetie is a powerful antioxidant and helps in the prevention and treatment of many diseases.
100 g of pulp contains only 58 calories, so Oroblanco can be used for dietary nutrition.
Useful properties
One of the most beneficial properties of the sweetie fruit is increasing immunity. Ascorbic acid, which is contained in the fruit, helps to cope with colds easier and faster. Essential oils have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the central nervous system. This product improves mood and stress resistance, eliminates depression.
Other beneficial properties of this citrus:
- normalizes blood pressure;
- tones and improves performance;
- prevents premature aging of the skin, because the pulp contains substances that kill free radicals;
- increases the elasticity of blood vessels;
- prevents the development of cardiovascular diseases (heart attack, stroke);
- reduces the level of bad cholesterol;
- helps fight swelling;
- has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system;
- prevents the development of cancer due to phytonutrients in the pulp.
Flaws
Citrus has several disadvantages:
- thick pulp with a bitter aftertaste;
- the thick skin sometimes reaches 1/4 of the entire fruit;
- the film of pulp has an unpleasant taste, so it should be removed when eating the fruit;
- between the pulp and the peel there is a cream-colored layer, which should be removed when consuming the fruit;
- the benefit of pulp is only 50%;
- The harvest of the sweetie tree is stored for a long time, but it can only be purchased during the fruiting season.
Contraindications
The harmful property of all citrus fruits is their high allergenicity. Therefore, sweetie fruit should be consumed with caution and in small doses.
Other contraindications:
- increased stomach acidity;
- hepatitis, cholecystitis;
- gastritis, stomach and duodenal ulcers;
- intestinal diseases;
- acute stage of cystitis and nephritis;
- increased overexcitability of the central nervous system;
- diathesis and various skin diseases.
Excessive consumption of fruit can cause intoxication. For pregnant women and children, such a fruit is harmless if there is no tendency to be allergic to citrus fruits.
Application
The fruits of this plant are widely used not only in cooking, but also in medicine.
Cooking
The pulp of the fruit is rarely consumed fresh; more often it is added to fruit and vegetable salads or baked goods. Jams and jams are made from the pulp.
The pulp goes well with chicken breast, mushrooms and seafood.
Cosmetology
Sweetie fruit oil is used in cosmetology. This product cleanses oily skin, expands pores, and makes the epidermis soft and tender.
Sweetie cleanses oily skin
At home, you can make a nourishing mask from the pulp of the fruit. To do this, mix rice flour (1 tbsp), fruit juice (2 tbsp) and bergamot oil (2-3 drops). Mix thoroughly until a homogeneous mass is obtained and apply to the skin of the face, avoiding the eye area. After 15 min. rinse with warm water.
When losing weight
This product helps not only normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, speed up metabolic processes and remove harmful substances from the body, but also lose extra pounds. The pulp of one fruit can replace a full breakfast.
Some citrus-based diets include sweetie. It is often used on fasting days to remove toxins and harmful substances from the body.
The fruit can be used as a snack. Sweetie goes well with dairy and protein products, so nutritious protein shakes are made from it.
Choosing a quality fruit
It is unlikely that it will be possible to determine the maturity and good quality of the fruit by the peel, since the color of the skin does not change even after ripening. The appearance of a slight yellowness on the skin is one of the signs of a ripe fruit.
Other signs of fruit ripeness:
- lack of bright shine on the skin;
- no signs of mechanical damage, rot or mold;
- lack of juice release when pressing on the stalk;
- absence of marks when pressing on the fetus;
- the heaviness of the hybrid - if the fruit is light, it means there is dried out pulp inside.
You should not buy fruits with a bright shine, because... they are treated with special chemicals.
Growing
Like other plants of the citrus family, the sweetie tree can be grown from seed. To do this, you need to cut a well-ripened fruit in half, remove the seeds, remove the pulp, wash and dry for 10 hours.
To germinate seeds you will need a small container. Place a layer of cotton wool on the bottom, then spray it with a spray bottle. Spread the seeds on a cotton surface, then cover them with a layer of cotton wool and sprinkle them generously again.
The container with the seeds should be placed in a warm place on the windowsill. The surface layer of cotton wool should be moistened as it dries. At room temperature 25-27°, the seeds will sprout in two weeks.
Germinated seeds need to be planted in a nutrient substrate from:
- leaf soil - 1 part;
- turf - 4 parts;
- sand - 1 part.
You can plant seeds both in flower pots and in seedling boxes. A layer of expanded clay or pebbles should be placed at the bottom of the planting container with drainage holes, then a nutrient substrate should be poured. Planted seeds should be watered the day after planting. The frequency of subsequent watering depends on the humidity in the room and the time of year. In summer, watering should be done at least once a week, in winter - once a month.
Rules of care
Caring for a young sweetie plant is not much different from the rules for caring for other citrus fruits:
- regular watering;
- regular application of fertilizers (organic and mineral fertilizers);
- in summer it should be taken out into the fresh air;
- regular pruning to give the tree a beautiful shape;
- providing bright diffuse lighting throughout the day.
Conclusion
The fruits of citrus plants are very popular. Sweetie is a hybrid that has recently appeared on supermarket shelves, but is already widely used in many areas of human activity.
Long gone are the days when people lined up to buy apples and pears at vegetable stalls, and rejoiced at tangerines before the New Year.
For quite a few years now, supermarket shelves have been filled with all sorts of exotic fruits. Residents of large cities will not be surprised by bananas, pineapples, kiwis and mangoes, etc.
But many people still treat one of these overseas delicacies with distrust. But this fruit is not deservedly deprived of attention.
Most buyers perceive it as an unripe grapefruit and therefore often pass by. Moreover, different sellers call it differently, somewhere on the price tag it says “sviti”, somewhere “oroblanco”, and in some places even “pomelit”, this simply confuses people. Although in principle the sellers are absolutely right, this unusual fruit actually has three names.
In addition, this fruit does not have a very traditional history of origin. After all, such a fruit did not exist in nature; it was bred artificially in America, at the research center of the University of California, by crossing the sweet Siamese and white Marsh grapefruit.
In 1984, Israeli breeders, using the American fruit as a basis, developed an even more successful version, which was called “Sweetie,” which means “sweet” in English. This variety has become widespread in many countries where citrus fruits grow. Nowadays, sweets can be seen not only in America and Israel, but also in Italy, Spain, India, China, Japan, and the countries of South America.
How does Sweetie grow?
Just like grapefruit, these are spreading evergreen trees, usually up to 4 meters high, although sometimes more than 10 meters are found. But on plantations where sweeties are grown en masse, the height of the trees is usually much lower, on average up to 2.5 meters. Most likely this is done for the convenience of caring for trees and harvesting. The leaves of these trees are oblong and dark green. Young fruiting branches are greenish, perennial branches are dark in color.
Sweetie blooms with white flowers no more than 5 cm in diameter with 4-5 petals and a protruding corolla. The flowers are unsightly in appearance, but have a surprisingly delicate aroma. Flowers can be arranged either singly or in clusters of up to a dozen pieces side by side. Here is a photo of this flower producing an amazing fruit.
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The fruits themselves are somewhat lighter in color. Outwardly they look like a pomelo, but are almost the size of a grapefruit, but their taste is much sweeter than oranges, tangerines and grapefruits. They are about 10 - 12 cm in diameter, have a shiny, smooth and thick skin. The fruits are quite dense and therefore even small in appearance they seem weighty. In most varieties, the skin of the fruit remains green even when fully ripe. The peel of the fruit is oily to the touch and if you remove it, a kind of layering remains on your hands.
Useful properties
Unlike other citrus fruits such as oranges and tangerines, sweetie has a rather thick peel and a lot of film between the segments, so a large amount of waste remains when consumed. Because of this, for a long time it was not popular even in its homeland, let alone abroad, until people tasted it and learned its beneficial properties. And sweetie, as it turned out, has much more beneficial properties than its ancestors, grapefruit and pomelo. The pulp contains about 7% proteins and 48% carbohydrates; there are no fats at all. 100 grams of product contains up to 45 mg of vitamin C, up to 10 mg of vitamin A and B6, large amounts of iron, magnesium, copper, silicon, sodium, calcium, fluorine, phosphorus and potassium, antioxidants, essential oils, folic acid, and most importantly special enzymes that promote the breakdown of fat and protein.
Due to the high content of vitamin C, sweetie is one of the effective fruits that can be used in the treatment and prevention of colds. The presence of these same “special enzymes” makes it an excellent dietary product, the use of which not only does not contribute to weight gain, but on the contrary helps to get rid of the heat accumulated in the body from other foods. Ordinary grapefruits also have these properties to some extent, but the bitterness of their pulp is not to everyone’s taste and most often discourages them from being consumed frequently. In Sweeti, a slight bitterness is present only in the films between the slices, and if they are carefully removed before use, then it is quite possible to eat several fruits a day and then you can really get the result of losing weight. And if you consider that the energy value is no more than 55 kcal, it becomes clear why this fruit is useful for overweight people. Its consumption will help get rid of toxins and reduce cholesterol. In addition, the functioning of the heart is normalized, this is a good reason why Sweetie can be used by people suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
It should be noted that you should not get carried away with this overseas fruit in particular. Sweety pulp should not be the main product, but an addition to the main diet. Although Sweetie is sweet, do not forget that it is a citrus and it is possible that it can cause allergies in some people. Even in completely healthy people, constant large consumption of this fruit can cause irritation of the intestinal and stomach mucosa. Therefore, for those suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, its use is limited. Such people should first try just a little sweetie juice, diluting it with half boiled water, no more than a quarter glass. Drink every other day. And if no negative effect appears within a week, then you can drink no more than half a glass a day, also diluting it with water. But for people with stomach or duodenal ulcers, colitis, gastritis, cholecystitis, enteritis and acute forms of nephritis and hepatitis, as well as for pregnant women, this fruit is generally contraindicated.
How do they eat?
Sweetie is consumed in the same way as grapefruit or pomelo. Having cut the skin, you can simply peel it with your hands, then, dividing it into slices, peel it from the films and can be used for food. You can simply cut it vertically into several pieces and then cut or peel the skin from each slice, and then remove the films. You can eat it by cutting it in half and then scraping out the pulp with a spoon, trying not to swallow the film. The pulp of this fruit can be added to salads, having previously been cleared of films.
The taste of sweetie goes well with meat and fish dishes, in dishes with chicken, mushrooms, seafood and various vegetables. Freshly squeezed juice is the most beneficial. Not only is this a completely invigorating drink, it will also improve the functioning of the liver and gastrointestinal tract and normalize the condition of the gallbladder. In addition, it can help with edema, as well as balance the water-salt balance of the body. This is an excellent antidepressant. One fruit or half a glass of juice a day will help you get rid of chronic fatigue or depression. But you need to keep in mind that you should not allow interlobular films to get into the juice. Not only do they spoil the taste of the juice, making it bitter, they also reduce its beneficial properties.
Application in cosmetology
The beneficial and even amazing properties of sweetie are successfully used in cosmetology. The pulp and juice make excellent anti-aging masks that perfectly moisturize and nourish the skin. Masks are especially useful for older people. After all, with age, as a rule, the elasticity and firmness of the skin are lost. And the enzymes contained in the suite help not only moisturize the skin, but also retain moisture in it for a long time and thereby restore freshness to the skin.
Sweetie masks are usually used for the first signs of aging and aging skin, but they are also beneficial for deteriorating general skin condition and unhealthy complexion caused by vitamin deficiency or various inflammations, such as acne or acne. Using additional ingredients, Sweetie face masks are used by professional cosmetologists for various purposes: whitening, rejuvenating, moisturizing, nourishing and toning. However, you need to know that they are not suitable for everyone. High levels of vitamin C may cause an allergic reaction in some people. Recently, the use of sweetie oil for massage has become widespread. Judging by numerous reviews, this is an excellent means of getting rid of cellulite.
Application in perfumery
The suites and perfumers didn't miss it either. The exotic, attractive, alluring, sweetish fruity smell of a blooming sweetie has led to the creation of several types of perfume compositions by famous French perfume companies. Here is one piece from their collection of products.
How to choose a suite?
And although sweeties are not always on sale in most supermarkets, you should not take just anything. Therefore, it is better to carefully inspect the fruits before purchasing. Take the fruit in your hands; it should be quite heavy in weight despite its relatively small size. The peel should be emerald or, in some varieties, yellowish, smooth and shiny. There should be no cracks, dents or darkening on the surface. When swaying, nothing should dangle in it, it should be solid and dense.
Sweety of good quality has a small sticker on each fruit - the supplier’s logo. In extreme cases, such a logo must be present on the packaging. By the way, in addition to the supplier’s markings, the packaging contains the month of harvest and the date of packaging. Do not be lazy to place the fruits in hard packaging for transportation, this will guarantee that they will remain intact during transportation. These are certainly not chicken eggs, but the integrity of the peel will ensure that you store the fruit in the refrigerator for more than a month, at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. For information: in Moscow and the Moscow region, the average price for 1 kg is about 100 - 120 rubles.
How to grow sweetie at home?
By the way, Sweetie can even be grown from a seed as an indoor citrus fruit. To do this, you need to collect the largest seeds, rinse and dry. Wrap in wet cotton wool or gauze for two weeks. When a sprout appears, plant it in the ground. True, the composition of the soil for tropical exotics is difficult to select in Russian conditions, but still many indoor plant growing enthusiasts have managed to grow full-fledged plants that serve as excellent decorations in their greenhouses or winter gardens. By the way, caring for it at home is quite simple. Like any citrus, it loves the sun; it needs to be watered as the soil in the pot dries out. For the winter, the tree is moved to a warm place and sprayed regularly. The plant is replanted every two to three years.
Despite the mass of obvious positive qualities and useful properties, sweetie was not immediately recognized in society. At first, the green color of the fruit evoked strong associations with immaturity. And the mass of unused inner shells and films also did not give rise to surges in consumer demand. However, the Israelis managed to convince the public. The first step towards this was a new name - Citrus Sweety. They managed to convince some countries, in particular Japan, of the special charm of these emerald fruits. Now Germany, France and Holland have joined Japan. And every year there are more and more fans of this product. We hope that thanks to our review, you will be among them.
Pomelo and sweetie are little-known exotic fruits that have recently appeared on the shelves of Russian stores.
Pomelo is a tropical fruit of the citrus family. Its weight can reach 10 kilograms, and its diameter can be 30 centimeters. The fruit grows on an evergreen tree with large leaves that blooms with white flowers. The fruit itself when ripe can be either light green or yellowish in color. The fruit is covered with a dense peel, and its pulp inside is divided into large segments, delimited by a rigid partition, sometimes containing seeds. The pulp of pamelo differs from other citrus fruits in being dry. Pamelo tastes sourish-sweet, but with notes of bitterness, like grapefruit. Its taste is less bright than most citrus fruits. According to, pomelo in moderation is suitable for vata and pitta dosha, as it contains sweet, sour and bitter tastes.
The homeland of pomelo is southeast Asia, or more precisely Malaysia and the islands nearby. If in Asia this fruit was known even before our era, then sailors brought it to Europe, and this happened in the 14th century. The name of the fruit comes from the Dutch pompelmoes (pompelmus), and it is also called sheddock - in honor of the English loyal subject Shadock, who brought the seeds of the fruit to the West Indies.
Sweetie is a hybrid of pomelo with grapefruit, white grapefruit. It appeared as a result of selection, and today it is also called oroblanco or white gold, which indicates the incredible value of the fruit crop. If in Europe pamelo gradually gained popularity already in the 14th century, then sweetie was invented only in the middle of the last century. But the selection product is devoid of a small amount, but still shortcomings of pamelo, or rather bitterness and seeds in the pulp. The color of the ripe fruit is also light green, the peel is dense, the pulp is divided by partitions. The pleasant citrus aroma has been enhanced, the taste is an order of magnitude sweeter, and in terms of its beneficial properties it is in no way inferior to natural crops. Sweetie is sometimes called pomelite to indicate the “pedigree” of the increasingly popular product. Sweetie moderately reduces vata and increases kapha. In small quantities it is neutral for pitta dosha.
Pomelo and sweetie are a source of healing substances and vitamins. The interesting taste and slightly less juicy pulp than oranges or grapefruits attract the attention of lovers of winter vitamins, and the point is that their body actually receives shock doses of vitamins!
Useful properties of pomelo
Pomelo is a source of vitamin C, and at the same time beta-carotene and B vitamins. Among the trace elements, pomelo contains iron, calcium, phosphorus and potassium, and sodium. Pamelo should certainly be included in the diet of adults and children for prevention, as well as during the recovery period after respiratory infections, flu, and colds. The high content of ascorbic acid and other antioxidants makes pamelo especially effective in these cases.
Pomelo contains enough elements and enzymes that promote the breakdown of fats, which is used in diets for weight correction. Along the way, pamelo normalizes heart function and blood pressure. Due to the high content of antioxidants and anti-cancer components, pamelo can be enjoyed and at the same time count on its anti-cancer effect.
Pomelo has a beneficial effect on the digestive tract due to the content of a lipolytic enzyme. In part, it contributes to a more active breakdown of proteins, which also makes pamelo a dietary product.
The cosmetic effect of using pomelo is also appreciated. Face masks are usually prepared using pamelo pulp, to which honey, lemon juice, and green tea are added. Pamelo juice can be used to wipe and tone the skin. It is recommended to wipe oily skin with pure juice, and dry skin with boiled water diluted in a 1:1 ratio. After such exposure, it is not superfluous to lubricate the skin with a nourishing cream.
Useful properties of sweetie
Sweetie in its properties is in no way inferior to its relatives, domesticated by humans from wild tropical conditions. Sweetie is rich in vitamin C - a powerful antioxidant that not only strengthens our immunity and allows us to resist colds and viral diseases, but also destroys free radicals, the content of which in the cells and tissues of our body provokes aging and even carcinogenesis. Due to the high content of the same antioxidants, sweetie is rightly recognized as the most powerful antioxidant. Regular use of it allows you to overcome depression and fatigue, apathy and loss of strength - all these conditions are so characteristic of us during the cold season. Sweetie also improves memory, attentiveness and other thought processes.
Sweetie is a source of not only antioxidants, but also enzymes and essential oils that promote the breakdown of proteins and fats. It is an excellent component of the diet menu also because it is low in calories (40-50 kcal). The fruit has a high fiber content, which allows you to normalize the functioning of the stomach and intestines; this is useful both for weight loss and for the detoxification of the body that is necessary for everyone. Sweetie is included in the menu for overweight patients, and is also recommended for everyone who wants to maintain excellent physical shape.
The benefits of sweetie are not only in the ability to remove waste and toxins from the body by supplying us with plant fibers, but also in neutralizing “bad” cholesterol. As a result, blood pressure and the functioning of the heart muscle improve, swelling (often indicating problems with the heart) is eliminated, and the water-salt balance in the body is restored.
Freshly squeezed sweetie juice is considered a tonic drink that can not only invigorate and give strength, but also stabilize the function of the liver, gall bladder, and intestines.
Sweetie also deserves attention as a component of home beauty products. It makes effective masks for nourishing and moisturizing the skin.
Restrictions on the use of pomelo and sweetie
The beneficial properties of pomelo and sweetie deserve these fruits to appear on our table. At the same time, they cannot be called completely harmless and recommended for all categories of citizens. Being concentrated sources of organic acids, citrus fruits (and pamelo with sweetie is no exception) are contraindicated in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with high acidity and in a number of diseases of the liver, kidneys and gall bladder.
Sweetie and pomelo can irritate damaged or weakened mucous membranes of the intestines, stomach, and kidneys. Therefore, their use should be limited, or even completely eliminated in case of enteritis, inflammation of the intestines, colitis, ulcers of the duodenum and stomach, gastritis with increased acidity of gastric juice, as well as hepatitis, acute form of nephritis and cholecystitis, irritable bowel syndrome.
It is not recommended to consume sweetie in excess, as the large amount of vitamin C contained in it can cause food poisoning or allergies. This is especially true for little citrus lovers. Neither pamelo nor sweetie are recommended for people with a negative reaction to citrus fruits.
Another circumstance in which the benefit of pamelo and sweetie turns into their harm is the lack of a sense of proportion. The fruits are quite large, although they have peels and enough membranes, but it is not recommended to eat more than one peeled fruit per day. Otherwise, the laxative effect of pamelo runs the risk of appearing. If at the same time you have increased acidity of gastric juice, then the laxative effect is nothing compared to heartburn and exacerbation of gastritis.
How to choose good pomelo and sweetie?
Pomelo and sweetie are tropical fruits that require certain transportation and storage regimes.
When buying a pomelo in a store, you need to pay attention to the peel - it should be soft to the touch, the fruit itself should smell pleasant. If the pamelo does not smell, this may indicate its immaturity. An unripe fruit will most likely have a hard skin.
The peel of the sweetie is also an indicator of its ripeness. It should be smooth and shiny, without damage, and the fruit itself should be relatively heavy for its size. The peel of the sweetie may be slightly soft, but not pressed too much.
It is not the most correct thing to evaluate pamelo and sweetie by the color of the peel, because its shade does not always depend on ripeness, but on the type of citrus.
Sweetie and pomelo before use must be peeled not only from the peel, but also from the veins - they are quite dense. The pulp itself can be consumed as an independent delicacy, or you can add it to desserts, sorbets, prepare salads, cold appetizers, and freshly squeezed juices from it. Pamelo is a common ingredient in Thai and Chinese dishes. Sweetie and pamelo go well with seafood, poultry, and olive oil.
Sweetie and pomelo peels are also good for making candied fruits.
In 1970, an amazing fruit called sweetie was bred in one of the experimental laboratories of the University of California. Sweety literally means “sweet”. This type of citrus fruit was created by crossing a white grapefruit and a pomelo hybrid. The goal was to get a sweeter one, and the breeders successfully completed the task. Most often, such exotic fruits are rare on our table. Until now, sweetie has not gained popularity among the wide mass of consumers, although it can be purchased at an affordable price in almost any grocery store. Sweety remained in the background completely undeservedly, because this citrus, in addition to its pleasant taste, has properties that are healing for our body. In today's topic we will tell you what substances are included in Sweetie, the benefits and harms of this fruit, whether it is worth giving Sweetie to children and in what form it is better to include this citrus in your diet.
Nutritional value of sweetie and its chemical composition
So, 100 g of juicy sweet pulp contains the following substances:
- Water – 83.2 g;
- Fats - 0.2 g;
- Proteins – 0.6 g;
- Carbohydrates - 7 g;
- Organic acids - 1.3 g;
- Mono- and disaccharides - 5.7 g;
- Dietary fiber – 1.5 g;
- Ash - 0.5 g.
Although sweetie is, in fact, a grapefruit, the composition of these fruits is somewhat different. Sweetie is sweeter, and therefore has more calories than its predecessor - 55 kcal per 100 g of citrus. This is quite a bit, so you can safely eat a whole kilogram of this fruit if you wish. However, if you decide, such a task will not be easy for you - the sweetie has a thick peel, and you will have to try hard to get to the tasty edible pulp. Perhaps one of the reasons for the “dislike” for sweetie is precisely because of the large amount of waste and the small amount of the sweet part of the fruit.
Sweetie is rich in macroelements that the human body needs for normal healthy functioning. They constitute approximately ¼ of the recommended daily intake. The most significant of them:
— Calcium — 25 mg;
— Phosphorus — 18 mg;
— Sodium — 12 mg;
— Potassium — 182 mg;
— Magnesium — 11 mg.
The macroelements that make up the suite, the benefits and harms of which are an important issue, are mineral substances that can only enter the body with human food.
Among the whole complex of vitamins that Sweetie contains, the most present is vitamin C. As much as 45 mg of this vitamin fits into 100 g of Sweetie. The record content of ascorbic acid gives Sweetie antioxidant properties. Regular intake of this amount of vitamin C in food completely covers the need for a daily dose and strengthens the immune system, allows the body to fight infections more intensively, and also partially satisfies the need for some other vitamins, such as A, E, some B vitamins, etc.
Useful and medicinal properties of sweetie
Sweetie is a simple and useful remedy for colds during periods of flu and ARVI epidemics. It is enough to eat the fruit twice a week, and viruses will bypass you. Moreover, sweetie can be eaten in slices, and it’s also a good idea to add slices of citrus to hot tea - the drink will acquire a magical aroma and become a real healing elixir for a cold throat.
The green sweetie fruit contains essential oils. They have natural invigorating properties, and citrus has been considered a natural antidepressant since ancient times. These oils can be seen when you peel the fruit - leaving oily stains on your hands. The crust covering the sweetie is rich in essential oils. After a hard day at work, it is useful to take a bath with sweetie fruit peels. The skin will become more elastic and fresh, and you will be recharged with a surge of energy and the desire to have a pleasant evening with loved ones.
Sweetie is a low-calorie fruit, so its use is encouraged in dietary nutrition. In addition, this citrus has a beneficial effect on blood vessels and lowers blood glucose levels. For diabetics, sweetie should be included in the daily menu, and with constant use, insulin doses can be reduced in accordance with the decrease in sugar levels.
Sweetie also helps remove swelling from the body. Moreover, citrus primarily reacts to dangerous hidden swelling. Preeclampsia is a dangerous complication that is not uncommon during pregnancy and can seriously threaten the lives of both the expectant mother and the baby. Sweetie prevents the development of gestosis and improves blood microcirculation.
This fruit is not contraindicated in baby food; it can be included in microdoses in food in the form of juice or puree from 1 year of age.
Sweetie in cooking
The best way to eat this wonderful fruit is to eat it fresh, without any manipulation. We peel the sweets in any way convenient for you - with your hands or with a knife. We enjoy the sweet taste of the pulp. Please note that even ripe sweeti fruits have a deep green color, so you should not rely on color when choosing a fruit. The smell will tell you better about the quality of the fruit - if there is a “pungent” sourness, it means the citrus is not yet ripe. And the sweet, slightly bitter aroma will tell you about the juicy ripe fruit.
The sweetie peels should not be thrown away - the dried peels can be added to the teapot, and then your tea will become very aromatic, with a light citrus aftertaste. However, the inner white layer of the peel should be removed before drying - it is bitter.
You can make wonderful marmalade from sweetie fruits. We will need 5 oranges, 5 sweeties, a bag of dry jelly, 100 g of orange juice and 200 g of granulated sugar. Peel the fruits and remove the pulp from the membranes. Cut into small pieces. Then cover the peeled and prepared citrus fruits with sugar. Leave for half an hour. Add juice to fruit. Place the container with citrus fruits on the fire. Carefully, slowly, bring to a boil. Add the jelly packet to the boiling mixture. Mix thoroughly. Continue cooking for 7-10 minutes. Then remove the container from the stove. Carefully, trying not to break it, transfer the hot marmalade into a jar. Leave at room temperature until cool. Then put it in the refrigerator for 8 hours. Delicious homemade marmalade is ready!
Contraindications to the use of sweetie
Sweetie contains citric acid, which can aggravate chronic diseases of the body. Also, when you first meet Sweetie, it will be enough to eat no more than 1/2 of the fruit. The stomach may react to an unfamiliar exotic product with indigestion. Remember: everything is good in moderation. You should use this fruit with great caution if you have the following ailments:
- gastritis;
- stomach ulcer;
— acute and chronic diseases of the pancreas;
- pancreatitis;
- inflammation of the duodenum;
- individual intolerance to citrus fruits.
The name of this exotic citrus is practically unknown to the consumer. However, connoisseurs of the English language will recognize the word “sweet” in the name of the fruit, which translated into English means “sweet.” Indeed, sweetie has a much sweeter taste than its citrus brothers: orange, grapefruit, pomelo. Its other names are oroblanco (which translates as “white gold”) or pomelite (that is, similarity and kinship with this fruit).
The sweetie fruit has a thick peel, round shape, sizes up to twelve centimeters in diameter, and white-yellow juicy pulp. Sweety tastes sweet, with a slight sourness and bitterness.
Growing sweetie history, how exactly and where
This unusual hybrid was created as a result of many years of research and experimentation. Their goal was to create a fruit reminiscent of grapefruit, but without the bitter taste inherent in the latter. And in the mid-nineties, the University of California managed to produce a fruit that meets these characteristics. It was created by crossing a white grapefruit and a pomelo.
A few years later, sweetie was already grown on plantations along with the usual and familiar citrus fruits. The tree itself is evergreen, with long dark green leaves, up to nine to ten meters high. In spring, it blooms with small white flowers that have a delicate and delicate aroma. Sweetie grows in the tropics and Mediterranean countries.
How to select and store sweetie fruit
On supermarket shelves, this unusual fruit is often mistaken for unripe grapefruit. Indeed, in size and shape, sweetie is exactly like its “parent” grapefruit. However, the peel of the sweetie has a rich green color even when the fruit is fully ripe.
So, the peel of this fruit should be dense, green or yellow-green, without spots, scratches or other damage. In a good fruit it is oily, smooth to the touch and shines in the light. If you estimate the weight, then the sweetie should be dense and heavy in the hand relative to its small size.
The price per kilogram of sweetie fruit ranges from one hundred twenty to one hundred and fifty rubles per kilogram. But there are not many fruits per kilogram; they are quite heavy.
It is better to store sweetie in the refrigerator, but you can also store it without it, at room temperature. It has good shelf life, although, of course, it is better to consume this fruit immediately after purchase so as not to lose any of the beneficial qualities.
Useful properties of sweetie
Often people pass by the sweetie not only because of the green color of its peel, but also because during cleaning a lot of waste remains: the peel itself and films. Therefore, Sweetie is not very popular. However, it has much more beneficial properties than grapefruit and pomelo. It contains the following substances:
- Fiber
- Vitamin C
- Minerals: phosphorus, magnesium, calcium
- Antioxidants
- Essential oils
- Fat-digesting enzyme
- Phytonutrients (substances that reduce the risk of cancer cells)
Benefits of sweets for the body
Sweetie combines many beneficial properties of different citrus fruits. So, for example:
- Helps normalize cholesterol levels
- Helps with swelling
- Restores water and salt balance
- Has antidepressant properties
- Improves attention and memory
- Has a tonic effect
- Improves intestinal and liver function
- Helps fight diseases during colds
- Reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes
- Reduces blood sugar levels
- Helps remove toxins from the body
- Increases the body's immune properties
Processing (in what form is it eaten)
To use sweeti for food, you need to wash it thoroughly, peel off the peel with a knife or your hands, and also remove the seeds, films and partitions: they taste bitter. The remaining slices can be consumed. If sweetie is not an ingredient in a dish, but is eaten on its own, the pulp can be scooped out with a spoon so as not to bother with peeling.
Cooking methods
Sweetie contains practically no fat (only two hundredths of a gram), its calorie content is only 58 kilocalories per hundred grams. This fact makes sweetie the most valuable dietary product. Not only fruit salads, desserts and ice cream are prepared with it. Sweetie goes well with vegetables, mushrooms, fish and seafood, and lean poultry such as chicken. It gives these products a delicate, piquant and fresh taste.
In addition, freshly squeezed sweetie juice is popular among lovers of this fruit. However, you need to carefully ensure that when preparing the juice, no films get into it: in this case, the juice will taste bitter. Sometimes sweetie juice is added to sauces and dressings.
Dishes from the suite
The menu will be decorated with a salad consisting of the following ingredients: chicken fillet, orange pulp, lettuce, sweetie pulp, hard cheese. You can dress this light and unusual salad with olive oil, adding spices to taste. It has an unusual sweet and sour taste.
Another version of the sweetie fruit salad is with shrimp, avocado and lettuce. The dressing for this salad is similar to the previous one.
Fans of unusual foods will love the salad with ham, canned corn, sweetie, arugula and pine nuts. When preparing arugula, you need to tear it into small pieces, cut the sweetie pulp and ham, or chop the nuts or leave them in their original form.
A very successful use of sweetie would be to prepare candied fruits from pre-soaked and peeled peels. For a kilogram of crusts you will need a quarter liter of water, a kilogram of sugar and a pinch of citric acid. These candied fruits should be stored in a cool place in a tightly closed container.
With the addition of sweetie, you can make excellent desserts, baked goods, jelly and lemonade. Instead of tea with lemon, you can try tea with sweetie. A couple of slices of sweetie added to tea will give it a delicate fresh taste. This tea invigorates and improves your mood.
Contraindications for consuming sweetie
Due to the high content of vitamin C, this citrus fruit is contraindicated for people with high stomach acidity, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as individual allergic reactions. You shouldn’t indulge in sweetie too often because of possible irritation of the gastric mucosa and related problems. It is better to sometimes refresh your diet with this unusual and very healthy fruit.
