Banpeiyu - Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr.

Banpeiyu (Japanese: 晩白柚) is a cultivar of pomelo which produces extremely large fruits.

A Banpeiyu fruit became the worlds heaviest pomelo when it was presented by Seiji Sonoda from Japan for the Guinness World Record at the Banpeiyu Competition in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto, Japan on the 25th of December 2005. This specimen weighed 4.8597 kg (10 lb 11.3 oz) with a circumference of 83.5 cm (32.8 in).

The fruit of the Banpeiyu is very popular in Japan for eating fresh, due to its blend of mild acidity and pleasant sweetness, it is also used in the production of fruit jelly.

Banpeiyu and different citrus in a bathtub at Yatsushiro, Kumamoto, Japan.

Banpeiyu is mostly known today as a Japanese citrus and is ranked as the most popular pomelo cultivar in Japan, producing high quality fruits in the hottest regions of the country. Nevertheless, it is assumed to be of unknown, possibly Malayan origin, and arrived in Japan via Taiwan where it was introduced in 1920, and is sometimes referred to as a Taiwan Pomelo. It also has many other names, which are similar in pronouncement to Pay You.

The tree is large and of vigorous growth, new buds are hairy as are the underside of the leaves. The fruit is very large and nearly spherical, it has a thick pith which is pale yellow and smooth. Juice vesicles are likewise pale-yellow, firm but tender and juicy, with an excellent balanced flavour between sweet and tart, separated into 15-18 segments with thin but tough walls. The fruit is harvested during medium to late season and keeps fresh for several months.

The Japanese people place whole Banpeiyu and different citrus fruits in bathtubs for aroma and use them as a remedy for colds, there is a bathhouse in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto, Japan, that is named "Banpeiyu" after the fruit.

Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. RUTACEAE

Season of ripeness at Riverside: October to November

Fruit very large (one of the largest), subglobose to spheroid; seedy.  Light yellow.  Rind thick; surface smooth and tightly adherent.  Segments numerous (15-18); axis large and solid; carpellary membranes thin but tough.  Flesh color pale yellow; tender and juicy; flavor excellent, a pleasant blend of sugar and acid.  Medium-late in maturity but stores well for several months longer.

Tree very vigorous, spreading and large; leaves large and broadly winged; twigs, new shoot growth, petioles, and lower surface of leaves pubescent.

Banpeiyu is almost certainly the variety known as Pai You (Yau) on Taiwan.  The variety is of unknown Malayan origin and was introduced into Formosa (Taiwan) in 1920, named in 1925, and taken to Japan soon thereafter.  It develops high quality fruit only in the hottest regions of southern Japan.  Among pummelo varieties, it currently ranks first in Japan and second on Taiwan.