Pitcher Pomelo Palomas

5 from 4 votes

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Citrusy, refreshing, and customizable with your choice of alcohol. Not to mention drop-dead gorgeous, this big batch drink is perfect for a party.

Two Pomelo Palomas in small glasses.

Who loves alliteration? I do, I do!

I also love a fruity cocktail but I do not love a sweet cocktail. And I know a lot of you are with me. You can almost feel the headache coming on when you sip a sugary, boozy drink, and that’s no fun. I want something bracing, almost acerbic, with the fruit providing flavor and maybe tanginess but not sweetness. This big batch pitcher of pomelo palomas is bursting with citrusy flavor, and perfect for welcoming a group of people for cocktail hour.

This is a great winter cocktail, which not so coincidentally is when pomelos are in peak season (December through February, though you can usually find them year-round). The fact that you can make this ahead and that it’s a pitcher drink means it’s made for parties. Offer a glass of this to guests with some Smoked Salmon Crostini with herby mayo or Cheesy Bacon Puff Pastry Straws at a cocktail party, or park a pitcher of this next to a nacho bar for your next game day.

Slice of grapefruit on the rim of a Pomelo Paloma.

What Is a Paloma?

Traditionally, a Paloma is made with grapefruit juice and tequila. I decided to blend of pomelo and grapefruit juice in mine. I also played around with a couple of versions — one with vodka and one with tequila. Both were terrific.

So is a Paloma with pomelo juice subbed in for the grapefruit juice and vodka subbed in for the tequila still a Paloma? Probably not. It’s more like a Greyhound, I guess. But with pomelo juice. And also sparkling water. And simple syrup and lime juice. Whatever. I’m not getting into an argument.

Two Pomelo Palomas in small glasses.

What’s a Pomelo?

A pomelo (sometimes spelled pummelo) is a member of the citrus family, larger than a grapefruit, sometimes almost twice as big. The rind is also insanely thick (often over an inch thick), and other than a thin outer layer, it’s all bitter pith, so unfortunately, it’s not all that useful for eating or cooking.

The edible part inside is kind of small compared to the overall size of the fruit, and you don’t get a whole lot of juice from a pomelo — the size is deceiving because of the thickness of the rind. One pomelo might produce only 1/3 cup of juice, so plan accordingly. The taste, however, is terrific.

Pomelos are grown everywhere from China and Thailand and the Philippines to California and Florida here in the U.S.

How to Make (Optional!) Yuzu Simple Syrup

You will see that you have the choice of using agave (vegan) or honey (not vegan) if you don’t have the time or ingredients to make a simple syrup with yuzu paste. Yuzu is a type of Japanese citrus, often featured in Ponzu, which is a quintessential Japanese condiment and ingredient.

Yuzu paste is available in Japanese markets and also online, so it’s not impossible to get, but I’m also not assuming it’s sitting in your pantry, or that you want to own a tube of the stuff. During a trip to Japan, I returned with a tube of yuzu paste (and a thousand other food things), and while it adds another layer of flavor to this cocktail, it’s very optional.

  1. Combine 1/2 cup water with 1/2 cup sugar in a small saucepot over medium-high heat.
  2. Bring to a simmer and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
  3. Stir in 1 tablespoon yuzu paste and remove from the heat.
  4. Let cool to room temperature, then transfer to a clean glass container and refrigerate for 24 hours. Use within two weeks, and keep refrigerated.
Two Pomelo Palomas in small glasses with sriracha salt rims.

Pitcher Pomelo Paloma Ingredients

  • Pomelo juice – Grapefruit juice is a good alternative, or you can do a blend of the two citrus fruits.
  • Lime juice – Fresh is definitely preferred.
  • Yuzu simple syrup – If you don’t have yuzu paste to make a simple syrup, honey or agave are good substitutes, with the simple syrup or agave allowing the drink to remain vegan. You can also use plain simple syrup.
  • Tequila or vodka – Tequila’s the classic Paloma liquor of choice, but vodka’s equally delicious.
  • Club soda or sparkling water – The fizz makes this drink a little more refreshing!
  • Sriracha salt or kosher salt – While optional, a salted rim sets the cocktail off perfectly. There are other flavor options (see below).
  • Grapefruit and fresh basil – A slice or wedge of citrus fruit and fresh basil leaf make a beautiful garnish.

Salting the Glass Rims

Salt or no salt…that’s up to you. It really, really adds something to this drink, though. I bought a Sriracha Salt, which was unbelievable as a complement to the tart, citrusy cocktail, and I promise if you buy a jar for this purpose alone, you won’t regret it.

You can, of course, use regular coarse salt (don’t use table salt — it’s too fine and will just be too salty and not have that cool little crunch). And you can also play around with salts like black salt and Himalayan pink salt, which will look SO cool around the rim of the glass.

Glass rimmed with Sriracha salt over plate of salt.

How to Make Pitcher Pomelo Palomas

  1. Mix the cocktail: In a large pitcher, combine the pomelo or grapefruit juice, lime juice, simple syrup, tequila or vodka, and club soda and stir to combine. Keep in the fridge until ready to serve.
  2. Rim the glasses: To salt the rims, place some water (or booze if you prefer) in a small plate with a rim that’s large enough to fit the upturned glass. Place some salt in another small rimmed plate. Dip the rim of the glass in the liquid, then dip it into the salt, swishing it back and forth so the rim is evenly coated with the salt.
Rimming a glass with Sriracha salt.
  1. Pour the drinks: Fill the glasses with ice and pour the drink.
Pitcher pouring a Pomelo Paloma.
  1. Serve: Garnish with the citrus wedge or slice and a basil leaf or two.
Rocks glass filled with pomelo paloma over ice with grapefruit and basil garnish.

FAQs

What is the difference between a pomelo and a grapefruit?

Pomelos are, in general, sweeter and more mellow than most grapefruits. They have a thicker rind with more pith (the layer of spongy white rind beneath the colorful outer zest). They’re a little bit like an orange and a grapefruit combined. The rind can be a pale green or yellow, and they are often a bit more pear-shaped than grapefruits.

The flavor of pomelo is sour-sweet but usually less bitter than that of grapefruit. Some grapefruit can tip more into sour territory, depending on the variety and the crop. Red grapefruits are usually sweeter than yellow. The rinds range from yellow to orangy-pink in color and aren’t always that indicative of the color of the fruit inside.

What’s the difference between a margarita and a paloma?

Both drinks are usually made with agave-based tequila, contain fresh lime juice, and are often served with a salted rim. The flavor of a margarita is sweet and sour (and you may find some of them sweeter than anything else), while a paloma leans heavily into grapefruit or other citrusy flavors. Palomas have less sweetness than margaritas and a little more bitterness and complexity.

Make Ahead Paloma

One of the reasons to love a pitcher drink is that you can make this drink several hours ahead and keep it in the fridge. If you want to make it more than a few hours ahead, just leave out the club soda or sparkling water until just before serving and give it a good stir.

When possible, if you are making it just before serving, start with all of the ingredients chilled, even the pitcher. This means when you pour the palomas into the ice-filled glasses, less of the ice will melt, and the drink will not become diluted (unless you want to dilute it, in which case go for that).

Slice of grapefruit in a glass of Pomelo Paloma rimmed with sriracha salt.

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5 from 4 votes

Pitcher Pomelo Palomas

Citrusy, refreshing, and customizable with your choice of alcohol. Not to mention drop-dead gorgeous, this big batch drink is perfect for a party.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 8 People

Ingredients 

  • 2 ½ cups pomelo or grapefruit juice
  • cup fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons yuzu simple syrup (see Note, honey or agave)
  • 1 ¼ cups tequila or vodka
  • 1 cup club soda or sparkling water
  • Sriracha salt or Kosher salt (see headnote for other salt ideas)
  • Grapefruit slices or wedges and fresh basil (for garnish)

Instructions 

  • In a large pitcher, combine the pomelo or grapefruit juice, lime juice, simple syrup, tequila or vodka, and club soda and stir to combine. Keep in the fridge until ready to serve.
  • Fill a small plate with a rim with water (make sure the plate is large enough to fit the rim of the inverted glass). Place a couple of tablespoons of coarse salt in another (same thing about the size of the plate). Dip each glass into the water and then into the salt, making sure it coats the rim fairly evenly. Fill the glasses with ice, and pour the drink into the glasses. Garnish with the citrus wedge or slice and a basil leaf or two.

Notes

For the Yuzu Syrup
Combine 1/2 cup water with 1/2 cup sugar in a small sauce pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in 1 tablespoon yuzu paste and remove from the heat. Let cool to room temperature, then transfer to a clean glass container and refrigerate for 24 hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 139kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 15mg, Potassium: 131mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 13g, Vitamin C: 23mg, Calcium: 10mg, Iron: 1mg
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About Katie Workman

Katie Workman is a cook, a writer, a mother of two, an activist in hunger issues, and an enthusiastic advocate for family meals, which is the inspiration behind her two beloved cookbooks, Dinner Solved! and The Mom 100 Cookbook.

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