Grapefruit Super Juice: Calculator, Ratios and Recipe
The grapefruit super juice formula: citric acid, malic acid, a pinch of MSG and water over the peel weight, with a worked 100 g example and the step-by-step method.
Grapefruit is the fruit of the paloma, the Hemingway daiquiri and many spritzes. Its juice is bitter and too low in acid to balance a drink on its own — so grapefruit super juice adjusts the acidity and makes use of the peel, where the aroma lives.
It is the only formula with a fourth ingredient: a very small amount of monosodium glutamate (MSG), as in Kevin Kos’s original calculator, to round out the bitterness.
Grapefruit super juice formula
The factors are applied to the peel weight in grams. Note how little MSG goes in: 3.33 g for 100 g of peels.
| Ingredient | × peel weight | For 100 g of peels |
|---|---|---|
| Citric Acid | × 0.8 | 80.00 g |
| Malic Acid | × 0.2 | 20.00 g |
| MSG | × 0.03333 | 3.33 g |
| Water | × 16.66 | 1666 g |
Multiply the peel weight (in grams) by each ingredient’s factor. Acids to two decimals; water in whole grams — exactly as the app displays.
Example: 100 g of peels
- Citric Acid
- 80.00 g
- Malic Acid
- 20.00 g
- MSG
- 3.33 g
- Water
- 1666 g
In practice: 100 g of peels (1 to 2 grapefruits) yields about 1.8 litres of super juice with the water and the juice of the fruit.
These are the same numbers the Super Juice Android app calculates for all 5 fruits, in grams or ounces, with a saved history — 100% offline.
What the MSG does in grapefruit
MSG goes in at a minimal dose to add body and soften the perception of grapefruit’s bitterness without adding a flavor of its own. If you are sensitive to MSG or prefer to skip it, leave it out: acidity and yield stay the same, only the flavor balance shifts slightly.
Use food-grade MSG (the same product sold as a flavor enhancer in supermarkets).
Yield and shelf life
As with the other fruits, the final volume is several times that of squeezed juice, with acidity corrected for cocktail use.
Refrigerate in a closed bottle and use within one to two weeks.
How to make it
- Prepare the peelsWash the fruit well, peel only the colored zest (avoid as much white pith as possible) and weigh just the peels. That weight drives every number.
- Mix in the acidsAdd 80.00 g of citric acid, 20.00 g of malic acid and 3.33 g of MSG (for 100 g of peels) to the peels. Toss so the acid coats every piece of peel.
- Let it restCover and wait 1 to 2 hours. The acids pull the essential oils out of the peel and form the oleo citrate, the aromatic base of super juice.
- Add the water and the juicePour in 1666 g (1.67 litres) of water and the juice squeezed from the fruit you peeled. Stir (or blend briefly) until everything dissolves.
- Strain and storeStrain out the peels and keep it in the fridge in a closed bottle. Use it in drinks exactly as you would fresh juice.
Let the app do the math
Super Juice calculates acids and water for all 5 fruits in grams or ounces, shows the method with your amounts and keeps a history. 100% offline, no ads.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I make it without the MSG?
Yes. Keep citric acid, malic acid and water as in the formula and leave out the MSG. The result is slightly more bitter, with no change in acidity or yield.
How much does 100 g of peel yield?
About 1.8 litres, adding 1666 g of water, the acids and the juice of the peeled grapefruit.
Does it work in a paloma?
Yes: use the super juice in place of grapefruit juice and adjust the soda to taste.
Pink or white grapefruit?
Either. Pink varieties are sweeter and give a rosier juice; white ones are more bitter. The formula is the same.
How long does it keep?
About one to two weeks refrigerated in a closed bottle.