Grapefruit is a hybrid originating in Barbados as an accidental cross between two introduced species, sweet orange (C. sinensis) and pomelo or shaddock (C. maxima)
Grapefruit comes in many varieties. One way to differentiate between varieties is by the flesh colour of fruit they produce. The most popular varieties currently cultivated are red, white, and pink hues, referring to the internal pulp colour of the fruit. Grapefruit mercaptan, a sulphur-containing terpene, is one of the substances which has a strong influence on the taste and odour of grapefruit, compared with other citrus fruits. Essential oil is obtained from the cold pressed skin and zest of the white cultivar grapefruit.