It is delightful to visit a pomelo farm. The view of the fruits hanging along the long thorny branches of the tree is tempting. The fertile lands and availability of fresh water make all the villages along the Al Hajar Mountains suitable for this fruit. Despite limited agricultural land, their farms produce different crops besides palms, grapes and mangoes.
Sources indicate that farmers began their interest in cultivating the pomelo ten years ago due to good financial returns.
The pomelo trees are readied for fruition in December when wastes are removed and trees pruned to protect them from pests. Harvesting begins in September and October.
There are two types of pomelo: ‘Al Dairi’ and ‘Al Yahmadi’. These two types have achieved remarkable plantation success. It is in good demand in the Sultanate of Oman due to its health benefits.
In the past, when it was not appropriate to use electrical appliances, such as refrigerators, to preserve food, Omanis used to store pomelo fruit by wrapping it with palm tree fibres and keeping it underground in rooms with low temperatures. Then the fruit was extracted after several months. This method also had the advantage of enjoying the fruit even after the fruit season.
According to research, pomelo is a fruit rich in antioxidants. A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in 2013 stated that pomelo contains 26 polyphenolic compounds, including flavonoids, one of the most prominent types, constituting 78 per cent to 94 per cent of the total of these compounds.
The properties of Quercetin and Kaempferol have excellent health benefits. The antioxidants protect the body from the dangers of unstable free radical molecules. It also helps reduce inflammation.
