Is Grapefruiting Actually A Thing? 11 Qs About Technique, Risks, More

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You Probably Shouldn’t Do That with a Grapefruit — but If You Want to Do It Anyway, Read This

Medically reviewed by Janet Brito, Ph.D., LCSW, CST-S — Written by Adrienne Santos-Longhurst — Updated on January 29, 2026

It's real
Origin
Reason
Side effects and risks
Fruit selection
Fruit prep
How to prep
How to do it
How to clean up
Medical attention
Takeaway

Key takeaways

Grapefruiting is oral sex using a hollowed-out grapefruit slid up and down a penis while the giver focuses on the head. It became widely known after Girls Trip, with origins also linked to “sexpert” Auntie Angel and Tiffany Haddish.
The biggest risks include citrus allergy reactions, skin irritation, and painful burning if grapefruit juice gets into cuts, eyes, or the urethra. Grapefruit can also interact with certain medications, so ask a pharmacist if you take prescriptions.
If you try grapefruiting, use a room-temperature fruit, prep it carefully, and get clear consent before any “surprise” sexual act. A condom can reduce stinging and irritation, and thorough cleanup helps prevent painful burning during later penetration.

grapefruit half with a hole in the center, covered in a dripping white liquid to represent the "grapefruiting" technique in action

If you’re asking if grapefruiting is real, then you probably haven’t seen “Girls Trip” — the film that helped make grapefruiting a thing and may or may not have been responsible for a shortage of grapefruits in your local produce department.

Wait, that’s a real thing?

Seems so, though it’s impossible to know just how many people have actually tried this. It’s not like studies have been done on it… yet.

Who came up with it?

Well, until the movie “Girls Trip” came out, sexpert Auntie Angel was believed to hold the honor.

Rumor has it she gave an impressive grapefruit beej demo to a bridal party in 2002 and started teaching classes on it shortly thereafter.

In 2012, she put out a DVD called “Angie’s Fellatio Secrets.” Five million views later and poof — she was The Grapefruit Lady.

Then “Girls Trip” came out and actress/comedian Tiffany Haddish claimed she was the originator of this fruity form of fellatio and had been sharing the technique for years on stage.

What’s the point?

A BJ that also feels like you’re having sex with an incredibly wet vagina at the same time, apparently.

What’s the worst that could happen?

The worst that could happen is that one of you has a citrus allergy, in which case contact with the grapefruit could trigger an allergic reaction that can range from mild to severe.

FYI: You can develop a citrus allergy later in life, even after years of eating the fruit with no issues. Citrus allergies typically develop in the teens or twenties.

An allergic reaction can happen from consuming some of the grapefruit or its juice while giving head. The result would be intense itching and tingling of your lips, tongue, or throat.

Skin contact with the peel could also cause contact dermatitis, which is a whole other fresh hell. The symptoms, which could affect the skin on the hands, face, or — ouch — the penis, include burning, itching, swelling, and possibly blistering.

Fortunately, citrus allergies are pretty rare — but it’s still worth considering before busting out the grapefruit.

Another not as serious, but still kinda ouchy risk of performing oral with a grapefruit is getting juice in a break in the skin or in the eye.

If this happens, you can bet your basket of grapefruits that it’s going to sting and burn like a MOFO. And speaking of burning, the receiver can expect some major burn and irritation if juice makes its way into the urethra.

We’re not done. The giver could also end up with a scratchy throat from sucking back all that acidic juice.

And finally, grapefruit is known to interact with certain medications. This includes some corticosteroids, anxiety drugs, and drugs used for high blood pressure and cholesterol.

If you take meds, ask a pharmacist about grapefruit interactions.

Do you have to use a grapefruit?

A grapefruit is probably the best sized fruit in the citrus family for this purpose. A large navel orange could probably work, too.

The consensus seems to be that ruby red grapefruits are the way to go because they’re the sweetest type.

It’s your mouth, though. So, if you’re cool with a bitter taste then any grapefruit or supersized orange will do.

Is it as simple as grabbing a grapefruit from the kitchen?

You’d think, right? But nope. Some prep work is needed so you’ll need to plan ahead.

The grapefruit should be unpeeled and room temperature or even a little warm.

Using one straight from the fridge will NOT go over well with the person on the receiving end. (Can you say shrinkage?)

How do you prepare the fruit?

Here’s a step-by-step guide to grapefruiting prep:

Wash the grapefruit thoroughly under lukewarm water.
Roll the grapefruit around against a hard surface for a minute or so to loosen things up and make the flesh as fleshy and juicy as can be.
Use a sharp knife to carefully slice off both navel ends of the fruit, keeping the slices thin.
Cut a hole in the fleshy center of the fruit big enough to accommodate the receiver’s penis.
Voila — your fruit is officially fellatio friendly!

How do you, you know, do it?

If you’ve done your grapefruiting homework, you’ve probably come across the tip to surprise your partner by blindfolding them first.

So before you @ us for forgetting this step, know that we’re purposely leaving it out.

While we love a good surprise, it’s not OK to spring a sexual act on someone unless it’s a consensual “surprise” that’s been previously discussed.

If they consent to being surprised, then have at it.

Here’s how to give a grapefruit BJ:

Get them hard. Your partner’s penis needs to be nice and hard before you get out the grapefruit. Any kind of foreplay goes as long as it turns them on. You can try a hand job or skip the penis altogether and touch and lick their other erogenous zones.
Slip a condom on ‘em. A condom can help minimize any potential risks, like irritation or stinging. It’ll also reduce the risk of STI transmission. In keeping with the fruity theme, you can use fruit-flavored condoms. Nom nom!
Slip the grapefruit on and go to town. Slide the grapefruit over their cock and start twisting that fruit up and down the shaft while you work the head with your mouth. Alternate between sucking it, swirling your tongue around it, and flicking their frenulum, all while sliding the grapefruit snuggly up and down the shaft. Keep at it ’til they climax.
Clean up. This step is super important if you’re planning to transition to penetration. You do NOT want acidic grapefruit juice inside your vagina or anus. Oh, the burning! The horror!

Do you need to do anything special during clean-up?

Be gentle, but thorough. You want to get any remaining juice or pulp off their penis and the surrounding area — not take skin off.

You can use a wet wash cloth or gentle wipes, or head to the washroom for a quick rinse or shower. Pat dry and you’re good to go.

What should you do if something goes awry?

We know it’s easier said than done when something feels like it’s on fire, but stop what you’re doing and calmly assess the situation.

If there’s stinging or burning involved on the skin or in the eyes, rinse or flush with cold water.

Mild redness and irritation is likely to clear up on its own after a day or two. See a doctor or other healthcare provider if it doesn’t or if it gets worse.

Pain, burning, or stinging affecting the eye or the penis is going to require a visit to a doctor.

If you or your partner experiences signs or symptoms of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), seek emergency medical care.

Signs of a severe allergic reaction include:

hives
swelling of the mouth or throat
trouble breathing
nausea
vomiting
weakness
fainting
shock

The bottom line

Sure, it might get you some giggles, but grapefruiting can be messy and a little risky if you’re not careful.

If you want to mix it up the next time you go down, there are other ways to do it without going the fruit route.

A stroker (shop here) works pretty much the same way, minus the juice, but that’s nothing some edible lube (shop here) can’t fix. Bonus: No burning or stinging involved.

Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a freelance writer and author who has written extensively on all things health and lifestyle for more than a decade. When she’s not holed-up in her writing shed researching an article or off interviewing health professionals, she can be found frolicking around her beach town with husband and dogs in tow or splashing about the lake trying to master the stand-up paddle board.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Citric acid and citrus allergy. (2015). https://www.aaaai.org/ask-the-expert/citric-acid-citrus-allergy
Grapefruit juice and some drugs don't mix. (2017). https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/grapefruit-juice-and-some-drugs-dont-mix
Oral allergy syndrome. (2019). https://acaai.org/allergies/types/food-allergies/types-food-allergy/oral-allergy-syndrome

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Medically reviewed by Janet Brito, Ph.D., LCSW, CST-S — Written by Adrienne Santos-Longhurst — Updated on January 29, 2026

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