What Is the Difference Between Blood Orange and Grapefruit?

kiwis and oranges

Blood orange and grapefruit are both citrus fruits, although they come from different species. Blood orange, as its name implies, is a kind of orange; grapefruit is a cross between an orange and a pomelo.

Blood oranges and grapefruits are distinct in aroma. Blood oranges have a distinctive sourness to them, despite their sweetness. In fact, we might characterize their flavor as an orange raspberry cranberry combination. Grapefruit is known for its harsh bitterness.

What is Blood Orange

bunch of orange fruits

Blood orange is a type of orange with crimson-colored flesh. The color of its flesh, as indicated by its name, is similar to that of blood. Anthocyanin, a pigment found in many flowers but not in citrus fruits, gives the color. Blood oranges have an orange peel and appear just like ordinary oranges on the outside. They’re sweeter, seed-free, and have a more pleasant flavor than other oranges. They are also harder to peel than other oranges. They do, however, have a unique taste that is a mix of orange and raspberry. While they aren’t as sour as navel oranges, they do have a slight tartness to them. They resemble different types of oranges in terms of size.

Blood oranges are a naturally occurring mutation of sweet oranges, according to folklore. Blood oranges come from Italy, the major producer. During the winter, blood orange production is at its peak. Blood oranges are high in vitamin C and have antioxidant properties, similar to other citrus fruits.

What is Grapefruit

sliced blood lemon

A grapefruit is a large, round yellow/orange citrus fruit with an acidic juicy pulp. Grapefruits are a cross between sweet orange and pomelo. However, they are smaller in size than pomelo fruits and larger than oranges. It was originally cultivated on Barbados, but it is now grown all around the world. The bitterness or tartness of grapefruit has been well-known for some time.

The fruit’s inner flesh is usually pale yellow, but it can also be dark pink. The sweetness of the fruit changes with the color of the inside of the fruit. However, all grapefruits (there are several types, including Duncan,’Flame,’ Ruby Red,’ Henderson,’ Star Ruby,’ and ‘Hudson’) have a pleasant bitter aftertaste.

You may consume grapefruits raw, just like you would any other orange, such as clementine or mandarin. It can be added to salads as well. Despite the fact that grapefruit is not as sweet as oranges, some people eat it for sweets.

Difference Between Blood Orange and Grapefruit

Definition

A blood orange is a crimson-colored variety of orange, whereas a grapefruit is a huge round yellow/orange citrus fruit with an acid tasty flesh.

Orange

The name “blood orange” refers to a type of orange, whereas “grapefruit” is the result of crossing an orange with a pomelo.

Taste

We might characterize the flavor of blood oranges as a combination of orange, raspberry, and cranberry, while that of grapefruit is characterized by a distinct bitterness.

Inner Flesh

The inner flesh of blood oranges is crimson or dark red, while that of grapefruit varies from light yellow to deep pink.

Nutrition

Grapefruit is high in nutrients but calories are less. It is a great source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C(ascorbic acid).

In blood oranges, Vitamin C is present that holds up the blood vessels and regulates muscle functions. Also, blood oranges help in improving iron absorption.

Grapefruit Has Less Protein

Grapefruit has a lower protein content than blood oranges. The protein content of blood oranges is 0.94g per 100g, whereas that of grapefruit is 0.77g per 100g, resulting in a difference of about 22%.

Grapefruit Has Fewer Carbohydrates

The carbohydrate content in grapefruit is lower than that of blood oranges. Blood oranges contain 11.75g of carbohydrates per 100g, whereas grapefruits have 10.7g per 100g, resulting in a difference of about 10%.

Grapefruit Has More Fat 

Conclusion grapefruit contains more fat than blood orange. 0.12 grams of fat are found in each 100 g of blood orange, whereas 0.14 grams of fat are present in each 100 g of grapefruit (as seen in the tables). In this case, there is a difference of 17 percent.

Uses

Many diseases can be treated with grapefruit, including asthma, high cholesterol, elevated red blood cell levels, psoriasis (skin disease), weight and obesity.

Vitamin C is also found in lemons, limes, and blood oranges. It aids in the maintenance of normal body functions such as cholesterol metabolism while also strengthening the immune system and preventing strokes. It’s also high in anthocyanin, an antioxidant that lowers cancer incidence.

Conclusion

Blood orange is a kind of orange, whereas grapefruit is a cross between oranges and pomelos. Furthermore, the flavor of blood oranges may be defined as a combination of orange, raspberry, and cranberry while grapefruit has been known to have a hint of bitterness. So there you have it: the main distinction between blood orange and grapefruit.

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