Pomegranate, melograna, grenade or granada – these and other names refer to one of the most delicious fruits originating from the subtropical regions of the world. Allegedly, it was also a well-known biblical apple that grew on the tree of knowledge.
Regardless of the truthfulness of the story, pomegranate is native to Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It gradually spread to Egypt, India, China, Argentina and the USA. Nowadays, you would find it growing in all subtropical areas of the world, even in southern Europe. Thanks to climate change, you can grow fruit shrubs up to 4 m high in some warmer locations in Slovakia. Fruiting starts only four years after planting. Other sources claim that this tree comes from the island of Socrota near Somalia, where the pomegranate was endemic. It is also little known that the red dye obtained from this plant was used in the past to dye oriental carpets.
Delicious Fruit
A pomegranate is a medium-sized or larger rounded fruit with a yellow-orange to dark-red hard peel (it used to be used as medicine). The reddish pericarp is a sign of full maturity. It is a long-lasting fruit that can usually be stored for several weeks at room temperature but also in the refrigerator. Although the skin gradually hardens and becomes thinner, the pulp becomes sweeter. Inside the fruit are six to twelve sections with seeds resembling berries in sweet red, white, or pink jelly pouches. There are often up to 600 seeds in one fruit. Apparently, that is why this fruit was once a symbol of fertility and was allegedly also used as an aphrodisiac.
Pomegranates are a tasty, low-calorie fruit
Although a pomegranate resembles an ordinary apple, you can’t bite into it. You eat the pulp, more precisely the berry seeds. However, it takes a bit of skill to remove them, but you will be rewarded with a sweet, tasty treat. Just under the skin, there is also bitter whitish pulp that is not edible. Getting to the delicious and fragrant content is not as difficult as it may seem at first glance. Carefully cut the peel from the top down with a sharp knife and pull it down as if you were peeling an orange. Then, just put the seeds wrapped in sweet jelly pouches into a prepared bowl. The taste of this subtropical fruit, more precisely the reddish pulp, is sweet, sour and slightly bitter. However, it is incredibly refreshing and tastes great in summer and winter.
Pomegranate Recipes
You can prepare a fresh pomegranate juice. (Fruits must be rolled beforehand) You can then prepare various refreshing ordinary as well as festive drinks. For example, the oriental non-alcoholic drink sharbat or grenadine syrup, which is usually used in mixed alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. Pomegranate seeds and tasty reddish pulp are also used in cold cuisine. They can be added to vegetable or fruit salads. You can add it to cheese platters (such as goat cheese), sparkling wines, and ready-made dishes like poultry, fish, seafood, or grilled meat. A great Christmas punch with added pomegranates, desserts, and puddings decorated with juicy pomegranates. Pomegranates are a tasty, low-calorie fruit, containing about 77% water, 20% sugars, and a lot of vitamins and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, sodium, and potassium). Vitamins are mainly vitamins A, B, C, and vitamin K. Pomegranates are exceptionally healthy and beneficial when consumed regularly.
Text: Daniel Košťál, sources: Daniel Košťál, Titbit, retail chains, photo: Daniel Košťál, EUROVEA
