Poncirus taste comparison

[ilya11]

This year I again have a courage to taste poncirus fruits

From left to right: PoncirusPlus (3), SwampLemon (2), PT Voss (1), FD (1)

 Fruit of Voss was full of seeds, practically no juice, exceedingly bitter and sticky

The same for FD

PoncirusPlus fruits were enormous this year, probably because I used it for hybridization and removed all flowers but three.

The largest one:

I was able to extract 18 ml of juice, acid as lemon one, 12° Brix, no perceptible inside oils, pleasant fruity smell.

The second fruit of PoncirusPlus was more ripe, 49 g, 12 ml of juice, 26 seeds, 15°Brix, it had stronger fruity aroma and acid perception was less, probably due to  elevated sugar.

The third fruit weighed 29 g, 5 ml of juice, 29 seeds, 11°Brix, its taste was comparable to the first fruit.

Two fruits of SwampLemon had a degree of ripeness comparable to this fruit as judged by  color skin.

Fewer seeds, in total only 10, 25 ml of juice with 12° Brix.

In comparison to tasting two years ago link there was almost no bitterness, pleasant fruity smell, but some oils still sticked to the dents

[jibro]

Thanks for your report, I didn't expect a 12 -15° Brix level from Poncirus fruit, I had measured only 8° Brix from FD "VS" fruit and it was still much less acid than lemon. Poncirus plus and Swamp looks like a good improvement in comparison with common Trifoliate, what pollen did you use for hybridization?

[ilya11]

I had only citron pollen at that point, so potentially I could have hybrids with C.medica "Corsican". Actually never heard of such poncirus crosses.

The seeds are already under germination.

[roberto]

So Poncirus+ is still the best with minimum amount of sticky oil? Or even free of sticky oil?

[poncirusguy]

Have you considered grafting Swamp lemon and PT+ to push extra brix into the fruits.

[ilya11]

Oct 19, 2020 9:35:57 GMT -5 roberto said:

So Poncirus+ is still the best with minimum amount of sticky oil? Or even free of sticky oil?

At least when it is completely ripe and after hot summer it is the best, but this year SwampLemon is also quite good.
PoncirusPlus is edible even with internal membranes, but SwampLemon has some bitter aftertaste in them

[ilya11]

Oct 19, 2020 10:04:34 GMT -5 poncirusguy said:

Have you considered grafting Swamp lemon and PT+ to push extra brix into the fruits.

Both are already grafted on regular poncirus

[roberto]

Ilya, I have in mind, that Poncirus+ Comes from former Soviet Union -is this correct?

[poncirusguy]

I have grafted Poncirus to Seville sour orange to push extra Brix.

[ilya11]

Oct 21, 2020 6:35:38 GMT -5 roberto said:

Ilya, I have in mind, that Poncirus+ Comes from former Soviet Union -is this correct?

It is a chance seedling found by my Ukrainian friend Forward (he is a member of this forum)  in the vicinity of Yalta, Crimea.

[ilya11]

Oct 21, 2020 7:50:46 GMT -5 poncirusguy said:

I have grafted Poncirus to Seville sour orange to push extra Brix.

It could  be also reverse, an increase in acidity.

My grafts of kumquat to clementine gave large fruits with less skin , more juice that is  also more acid.

[citrange]

The perceived smell of PT (and possibly taste) varies greatly between different people.
I have taken ripe Poncirus fruit to a meeting with about 50 people and asked them all to scratch and sniff the peel.
Most found the smell quite pleasant and vaguely citrusy, but about 20% found it strongly unpleasant - some saying it reminded them of dog poo.
One lady complained bitterly that she couldn't get the smell off her hands and I had ruined her lunch!
Before this I had always wondered why there are many references to an awful, skunky smell - whereas I am quite happy keeping a fruit in my pocket and enjoying the aroma. The answer is that different people have different noses!!
I'm still not sure if the same applies to the flowers. I can't smell anything. It is often said that PT flowers are fragrant but I suspect that this is just a repeated myth. However, there are reliable reports that particular plants do produce flowers with greater smell.

[ilya11]

I  think that the smell of outside part of Poncirus peel is quite good with some fruity note, although I hate the smell of ordinary poncirus flesh.

Smell of  most of its F1 hybrids is even more repulsive to me.

[millet]

Better tasting poncirus and worse tasting poncirus all fit into a group of fruit labeled bad tasting citrus.

[roberto]

Oct 21, 2020 10:41:18 GMT -5 millet said:

Better tasting poncirus and worse tasting poncirus all fit into a group of fruit labeled bad tasting citrus.

It is not Poncirus that tastes bad -it is your nose that makes it smell bad.  It is the same with Pawpaw: some hate it some love it. For people in cold areas Poncirus+ is the only way to have a citrus in their garden and get somewhat useful fruits.