Duy An

Bến Tre Province is well known not only for its coconut, but also green-skinned pomelo, which has its own unique characteristics.

My family was very happy to receive a big box containing 24 pomelos from my friend in the southern province of Bến Tre.

Green-skinned pomelos are among must-try specialties grown in the southern province of Bến Tre. — Photo mia.vn

All my family members enjoy the fruits so much as they are juicy, sweet and fragrant. My mother told me to keep half of the fruits for Tết (Lunar New Year) festival, as this fresh fruit is a good complement to some of the heavier traditional Tết dishes. 

Together with other fruit specialties such as rambutan, coconut, durian and mangosteen, pomelo is considered to have potential for development and high competitiveness inside and outside the country. 

The green-skinned pomelo’s birthplace is Tân Thanh Village of Bến Tre’s Mỏ Cày District.

The pink juicy fruit is a regular snack for many people. — Photo mia.vn

The specific characteristics of this fruit were first highlighted at a competition on tasty fruits held in the 1960s, said Bến Tre local Huỳnh Năm Mỹ, adding that the fruits are now grown in the province’s Châu Thành, Giống Trôm and Chợ Lách districts, and Bến Tre City.

True Bến Tre green-skinned pomelos average between 1.2-2.5 kilo per fruit. When ripe, the skin is still green, thin and easy to peel, said Mỹ, noting that its juice vesicles are red or pink and easy to pull apart.

“It is completely sweet without sourness, and very fragrant and tasty,” Mỹ said.

This grower is very happy because her pomelos will soon be exported around the world to countries such as the US. — VNA/VNS Photo Phúc Hậu

He said locals consider it a precious fruit to present to relatives, friends or invited guests, along with the local specialty candied coconut.

The fruit, which contains many vitamins, is used to make pomelo porridge, pomelo oil and hair care products, Mỹ said.

Bến Tre green-skinned pomelo has been granted geographical indication by the Intellectual Properties Department.

The fruit has been sold at major markets in Hà Nội, HCM City and other localities from the country’s three regions.

Beyond its trademark coconuts, Bến Tre is also home to immense areas of green-skinned pomelo trees. — Photo mia.vn

“In the past, it sold well in urban areas, but now many people in rural areas also enjoy it and it now brings stable monthly income to growers, many households even become rich,” he said.

Furthermore, the fruit has been exported to the EU, the Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, China and Korea.

Bến Tre exported the first shipment to the US last year.

“The exportation to the US proved that our efforts have paid off and that our products have been recognised by one of the most demanding consumer markets," said Bùi Quang Đức, deputy director of Bến Tre Province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

He added that it’s a great opportunity for Bến Tre to promote the image of its specialties, including green-skinned pomelos, to world markets. — VNS