Do you know what Pomelo is? Well, it is similar to a grapefruit, although much sweeter. Pomelo, in my opinion is simply far superior to grapefruit. It is sweet, juicy, and generally just all-around-GOOD. I love the stuff. Pomelo is the English name of the fruit, in Tagalog it is called “Suha,” and in Bisaya it is called “Buongon.” Whatever you call it, the stuff just tastes good, and it’s good for you too.
Yesterday, Feyma and I, along with our oldest son Chris took a trip to Digos, Davao del Sur. We went there to visit our friends Kevin and Jaycee. Kevin is a former writer on this website. Kevin and Jaycee live in Pennsylvania, USA, but are currently spending two months in the Philippines. Kevin is a Science teacher in a US Middle School, and they will be returning home soon, as school will be starting before much longer.
On our way to Digos, we stopped in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur and bought some Pomelo at a roadside fruit stand. Have a look at the Video below to watch as my new friend Tita, the vendor, cuts up the Pomelo so that we can eat it during our drive!
As much as we enjoyed the Pomelo, I must admit that Feyma and I enjoyed even more the opportunity to meet Kevin and Jaycee. Their current trip was our first chance to meet them in person, and I must say that I consider them good friends now! We enjoyed a great lunch at their house in Digos on tuesday, consisting of Lechon Manok, Pancit, Rice, Pomelo Salad and other treats! After the meal, we sent out for some delicious Durian and Marang fruits! We really pigged out in Digos, and enjoyed every bite! Good food, good company – how could you possibly go wrong?
Thank you Kevin and Jaycee for your gift of friendship over the past couple of months! We are looking forward to your return to the Davao region, whenever that may be!
Maayong buntag Bob
Yes Pomelo is lamian my favorite is the yellow mangos in the Philippines. The good mangos are hard to find here in the Midwest and are often in poor quality by the time they get here.
maayongbuntag bob
i see you really enjoy eating healthy with all the different kinds of fruit.when i was in philippines i usually ate alot pineapple and yellow banannas,there was this fruit i had samilar to grapes,they were larger and very sticky but very enjoyable.cant remember the name of the fruit though but it was very cheap and good.i must say also that your fiesta at your friends house sounded enjoyable.it allways good to see old friends.
nice video at the fruit stand.i had to laugh because my dog started barking when he heard that dog at the fruit stand lol
salamat bob 😆
Hello Bob- Yes , they are one of my favourite fruits.Here in the States,they are not as wonderful as they can be in a warm tropical climate like you have in Mindanao,but they are still a real treat.Something about the acid mingled with a slight bitter taste is peculiarly refreshing.It is not as bitter as a grapefruit,but I prefer to enjoy it with a slight sprinkle of sugar on top. I also like the meatiness of pomelo as it can be quite substantial.I once had pomelo in a shrimp salad and I thought it complimented the salad quite well and it made a very satisfying meal.
By the way, how much per kilo are these things going for nowadays?
There is no doubt that pomelo is tasty, but your comparison to grapefruit may not be a fair one. The closer the fruit was to ripening on the vine has a direct impact on it's flavor. One of the wonderful joys of visiting / living in Mindanao is the abundance of fresh fruit.
That being said, on a drive once through South Texas we bought some locally grown grapefruits from a roadside fruit stand – I never knew ruby red grapefruit could be so sweet. http://www.texasweet.com/About-Texas-Citrus/Texas…
Let's hear it for locally grown fresh fruit 🙂
Hi Larry – Mangoes are good too, it's hard to argue against you on that one!
hi bob,
maayo na kaayo imong cebuano. impressive. you can actually carry on a conversation now.
have you tried chinese pomelo? juicy and really sweet. sawsaw asin.
have a good day!
Hi Ron w – I try to eat healthy, but am often guilty of not doing so! We had a great time in Digos with Kevin and Jaycee, and I have more videos to share from that too.
Hi Julius – I never thought of Pomelo having a bitter taste, even slightly. The pomelos that I have eaten are always sweet, and never bitter at all. They sure are good! Pomelo salad is great too. Maybe Feyma can write about that in a future recipe post!
Hi jan – Oh, that was just very simple, the Bisaya that I was using on the video. I can talk in full paragraphs now! 😆
Yes, Chinese pomelo is often available here, and it is great!
hello again bob.
i look forward to seeing your other videos as well.i dont eat the most healthy foods myself my friend.i work hard and also enjoy my food.
salamat bob
Hi Bob
And dont forget the Atis, Rambutan, dragon fruit and calamansi.
Can get a huge variety of fruit in South Africa becuse of the different climates, so grape fruit, oranges, manadrins (naartjies) are common. Get apples, pears etc. Mango, papaya and lychees. Bananas, but we dont get the plantain, that is more common in central africa. We also get all the berries. In fact all I havnt seen there that I really enjoy are the four mentioned above, and boy am I going to miss them.
Few things can be happier than a platter of nice fruit (and some good smelly cheese 😆 )
Hi Ron w – Nothing wrong with that! When you work hard and burn off the calories, you can take liberties with the food! 😆
Hi Carolynn – I must say that I miss berries…. berries of all kinds! You can get fresh strawberries along the roadside in Buda, but I mainly miss raspberries! Smelly cheese…. I think that must be the westerner's equivalent of durian! 😆
Yes Bob, the smelly cheese thing is funny. I cannot imagine eating a fruit that smells like that….. yet think nothing to sink my teeth into a peice of mouldy cheese….. also personally couldnt eat Balut, but I am sure there is something I am used to eating that would turn stomachs here. Was quite an interesting program on TV the other day about just that. Will eat Durian before I go, and you know what I will proberly like it and then miss it too.
Hi Carolynn – If you try Durian, and you like it, I predict that you will immediately like the smell of it too. That is the case for me, and for others I know too. At first, I thought it smelled horrible, but after eating it, I found that I liked the fragrance. Notice, before I ate it it was the "smell" or "odor" – now it has a fragrance! 😆
Wow Bob
Seeing those fruits you couldn't possibly get in the states makes my mouth water.
Ahhhhhhhhhh- imagining all the fresh fruits etc I will be sampling soon in the R.P is making me impatient to be there.
The dog barking and cocks crowing in the background really added to the atmosphere. Well done Bob.
Hi Dan – Yep, I understand you on that one! They sure are good, too!
Hi anthony – Sorry to make you impatient! I was going to say that I threw in the dog and cock sounds just for you, but that would be rubbing it in! 😆
bob
you are on your way with your bisaya. good for you. my husband chris and i look forward to your everyday life videos of the philippines.
salamat
maria
Hi maria – Thank you, I'm glad that you enjoy the videos!
Hello Bob!
As enjoyable as it was to read the story and watch the video, those were merely the basic elements in comparison. The crust and the filling of the pie, if you will. The whip cream was hearing you speak Bisayan. . . and in a natural setting.
Listening made me able to imagine being just around the corner and able to overhear your Bisayan conversation with the older gentleman that you mentioned in one of your other posts.
You inspire me.
On a different note, the subtleties of the way you approach your topics is artistic. Perhaps that it is just your way but it is compelling nonetheless.
Salamat!
R L Graham
Hi R L Graham – Well, thank you very much. I am a little embarrassed, because in the video I did not really speak anything but just very simple bisaya words. I can talk a lot more complex sentences than that, but was not thinking along those terms! Maybe next time! Thank you, though. 😆
Suha is on eof my favorites, and I still remeber the great suha sala Feyma prepared … mmm I am at my SIL's right now, driving home soon, better see if any fruit stands are still open 😉
SIR BoB ..this coming nov.15 2015 ..were going to harvest our CHINESE POMELO”..but we dont have a Buyer can you help me sir,,?? thanks …
I am sorry, edz, I don’t know anything about the marketing of pomelo. Good luck with your crop, though.
Hi Dave Starr – I love the stuff myself!
Hi, Bob!
I miss Davao so much and I envy you and Feyma. You know the land better than I do. I grew up in General Santos City and graduated in Davao City. I had been to the Philippines for a short vacation only once. I hope to be able to go back next year for our school reunion in Davao.
Your travelogues make me home sick. I remember the fruit stands in Mindanao. Yes, Mindanao is truly a land of promise. Nothing beats the fruits grown in lush Mindanao.
Shirley in California
Hi Shirley – Thank you very much for your nice comment. I do know my way around the Davao region pretty well, and also GenSan too! I lived there for 2 years. In my last few trips to GenSan, though, I am starting to realize that I am beginning to forget my way around there a little bit, due to not going there enough!
Thank you again, Shirley!