The pith or bitter membrane is peeled away and the large slices of the chakota can be either eaten or shredded very carefully to use for various preparations like salads, juices, desserts, pickles, chutney, jellies etc. The thick yellow rind is cut off with the knife deftly in vertical sections to reveal the pink or deep red segments arranged beautifully like a flower. The chakota is relatively large in size looking somewhat like an egg or an ellipse with a yellow or greenish yellow outer skin. This chakota however, does not grow well in other areas and its distinguished taste is not maintained either when grown outside of the Devanahalli district. The semi-dry climatic conditions and the red soil that is rich in iron and potash consisting of loam, clay and gravel is suitable for the Devanahalli pomello that is grown in about 40 – 50 kms radius of Devanahalli. Though it is said that the British and Tipu Sultan were somehow involved in the cultivation of chakota, chakota finds itself in the limelight now because of the efforts of the Department of Horticulture that has significantly improved the growth of indigenous fruits in this area. The chakota used to grow abundantly in villages around Devanahalli district in the state of Karnataka many decades ago.
As such, pomelo is loosely associated with grapefruit and though the Devanahalli pomello shares a deep historic ancestry with the grapefruit, it succeeds in creating its own unique identity in terms of physical traits and taste.ĭevanahalli pomello is from the citrus family but unlike the grapefruit that has an intense bitter flavour, Devanahalli pomello is deliciously sweet with a mild tartness and bitterness. The origin however of the more commonly used term of pomelo is unknown. Bablimas or chakota or chakotara is probably coming from this word called pampa limāsu or from pamplemousse (in French) which means big citrus.
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