Pomegranate

Thepomegranate(Punica granatum) is afruit-bearingdeciduousshrub in the familyLythraceae, subfamilyPunicoideae, that grows between 5 and 10 m (16 and 33 ft) tall. Rich in symbolic and mythological associations in many cultures, it is thought to have originated fromAfghanistanandIranbefore being introduced and exported to other parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe.
It was introduced intoSpanish Americain the late 16th century and into California bySpanish settlersin 1769.It is widely cultivated throughoutWest AsiaandCaucasusregion,South Asia,Central Asia,northand tropical Africa, the drier parts ofSoutheast Asia, and theMediterranean Basin.The fruit is typically in season in the Northern Hemisphere from September to February, and in the Southern Hemisphere from March to May.
The pomegranate and its juice are variously used in baking, cooking, juice blends,garnishes, non-alcoholic drinks, andcocktails.
The namepomegranatederives frommedieval Latinpōmum'apple' andgrānātum'seeded'.Possibly stemming from the old French word for the fruit,pomme-grenade, the pomegranate was known in early English asapple of Granada—a term which today survives only in heraldicblazons. This is afolk etymology, confusing the Latingranatuswith the name of the Spanish city ofGranada, which is derived from an unrelatedArabicword.
Garnetderives from Old Frenchgrenatbymetathesis, from Medieval Latingranatumas used in a different meaning 'of a dark red color'. This derivation may have originated frompomum granatum, describing the color of pomegranate pulp, or fromgranum, referring to 'red dye,cochineal'.
The modern French term for pomegranate,grenade, has given its name to the militarygrenade.
Pomegranates were colloquially calledwineapplesorwine-applesin Ireland, although this term has fallen out of use. It still persists at theMoore Streetopen-air market, in central Dublin.
The pomegranate is ashrubor small tree growing 5 to 10 m (16 to 33 ft) high, with multiple spiny branches. It is long-lived, with some specimens in France surviving for 200 years.P. granatumleavesare opposite or subopposite, glossy, narrow oblong, entire,3–7 cm (1+1⁄4–2+3⁄4in) long and2 cm (3⁄4in) broad. Theflowersare bright red and3 cm (1+1⁄4in) in diameter, with three to seven petals.Some fruitless varieties are grown for the flowers alone.
The pomegranate fruithuskis red-purple with an outer, hardpericarp, and an inner, spongymesocarp(white "albedo"), which comprises the fruit's inner wall where seeds attach.Membranes of the mesocarp are organized as nonsymmetric chambers that contain seeds which are embedded without attachment to the mesocarp.Pomegranate seeds are characterized by havingsarcotesta, thick fleshy seed coats derived from the integuments or outer layers of the ovule'sepidermal cells.The number of seeds in a pomegranate can vary from 200 to about 1,400.
Botanically, thefruitis aberrywith edible seeds and pulp produced from theovaryof a single flower.The fruit is intermediate in size between alemonand agrapefruit,5–12 cm (2–4+1⁄2in) in diameter with a rounded shape and thick, reddish husk.
In mature fruits, the juice obtained by compressing the seeds yields a tart flavor due to lowpH(4.4) and high contents ofpolyphenols,which may cause a red indelible stain on fabrics.Thepigmentationof pomegranate juice primarily results from the presence ofanthocyaninsandellagitannins.
P. granatumis grown for its vegetable crop, and asornamental treesand shrubs in parks and gardens. Mature specimens can develop sculptural twisted bark, multiple trunks, and a distinctive overall form. Pomegranates aredrought-tolerant, and can be grown in dry areas with either a Mediterranean winter rainfall climate or in summer rainfall climates. In wetter areas, they can be prone to root decay fromfungaldiseases. They can tolerate moderatefrost, down to about −12 °C (10 °F).
Insect pests of the pomegranate can include the butterfliesVirachola isocrates,Iraota timoleon,Deudorix epijarbas, and the leaf-footed bugLeptoglossus zonatus, and fruit flies and ants are attracted to unharvested ripe fruit.
P. granatumreproduces sexually in nature but can be propagated using asexual reproduction. Propagation methods includelayering, hardwood cuttings, softwood cuttings andtissue culture. Required conditions for rooting cuttings include warm temperatures within the 18 - 29 °C (65 - 85 °F) range and a semi-humid environment.Rooting hormoneincreases rooting success rate but is not required.Grafting is possible but impractical and tends to yield low success rates.
P. granatumvar.nanais a dwarf variety ofP. granatumpopularly planted as anornamental plantin gardens and larger containers, and used as abonsaispecimen tree. It could well be a wild form with a distinct origin. It has gained theRoyal Horticultural Society'sAward of Garden Merit.
The only other species in the genusPunicais theSocotran pomegranate(P. protopunica), which isendemicto theSocotranarchipelago of four islands located in the Arabian Sea, the largest island of which is also known as Socotra. The territory is part of Yemen. It differs in having pink (not red) flowers and smaller, less sweet fruit.
P. granatumhas more than 500 namedcultivars, but has considerable synonymy in which the samegenotypeis named differently across regions of the world.
Several characteristics between pomegranate genotypes vary for identification, consumer preference, preferred use, and marketing, the most important of which are fruit size,exocarpcolor (ranging from yellow to purple, with pink and red most common), seed-coat color (ranging from white to red), the hardness of seed, maturity, juice content and its acidity, sweetness, andastringency.
The leading producers globally are India and China, followed by Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, the US, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, and Spain.During 2019, Chile, Peru, Egypt, Israel, India, and Turkey supplied pomegranates to theEuropeanmarket.Chile was the main supplier to the United States market, which has a limited supply fromSouthern California.China was self-sufficient for its pomegranate supply in 2019, while otherSouth Asiamarkets were supplied mainly by India.Pomegranate production and exports inSouth Africacompeted with South American shipments in 2012–18, with export destinations including Europe, theMiddle East, theUnited Kingdom, and Russia.South Africa imports pomegranates mainly from Israel.
The pomegranate is native to a region from modern-day Iran to northern India.Pomegranates have been cultivated throughout the Middle East, India, and the Mediterranean region for several millennia, and it is also cultivated in theCentral Valleyof California and in Arizona.Pomegranates may have been domesticated as early as the fifth millennium BC, as they were one of the first fruit trees to be domesticated in the eastern Mediterranean region.
Carbonizedexocarpof the fruit has been identified inearly Bronze Agelevels ofTell es-Sultan (Jericho)in theWest Bank, as well aslate Bronze Agelevels ofHala Sultan Tekkeon Cyprus andTiryns.A large, dry pomegranate was found in the tomb ofDjehuty, the butler of QueenHatshepsutin Egypt;Mesopotamianrecords written incuneiformmention pomegranates from the mid-third millennium BC onwards.Waterlogged pomegranate remains have been identified at the circa 14th century BCUluburun shipwreckoff the coast of Turkey.Other goods on the ship include perfume,ivoryand gold jewelry, suggesting that pomegranates at this time may have been considered a luxury good.Other archaeological finds of pomegranate remains from the LateBronze Agehave been found primarily in elite residences, supporting this inference.
It is also extensively grown in southern China and Southeast Asia, whether originally spread along theSilk Roadroute or brought by sea traders.Kandaharis famous in Afghanistan for its high-quality pomegranates.
Although not native to Korea or Japan, the pomegranate is widely grown there and many cultivars have been developed. It is widely used forbonsaibecause of its flowers and for the unusual twisted bark the older specimens can attain.The term "balaustine" (Latin:balaustinus) is also used for a pomegranate-red color.
Spanish colonists later introduced the fruit to theCaribbeanand America (Spanish America). However, in theEnglish colonies, it was less at home: "Don't use the pomegranate inhospitably, a stranger that has come so far to pay his respects to thee," the English QuakerPeter Collinsonwrote to the botanizingJohn BartraminPhiladelphia, 1762. "Plant it against the side of thy house, nail it close to the wall. In this manner it thrives wonderfully with us, and flowers beautifully, and bears fruit this hot year. I have twenty-four on one tree...Doctor Fothergillsays, of all trees this is mostsalutiferousto mankind."
The pomegranate had been introduced as an exotic to England the previous century, byJohn Tradescant the Elder, but the disappointment that it did not set fruit there led to its repeated introduction to the American colonies, even New England. It succeeded in the South: Bartram received a barrel of pomegranates and oranges from a correspondent inCharleston, South Carolina, 1764. John Bartram partook of "delitious" pomegranates withNoble JonesatWormsloe Plantation, nearSavannah, Georgia, in September 1765.Thomas Jeffersonplanted pomegranates atMonticelloin 1771; he had them fromGeorge WytheofWilliamsburg.
Pomegranate juicecan besweetorsour, but most fruits are moderate in taste, with sour notes from the acidicellagitanninscontained in the juice.Pomegranate juice has long been a common drink in Europe and the Middle East, and is distributed worldwide.Pomegranate juice is also used as a cooking ingredient. In Syria, pomegranate juice is added to intensify the flavor of some dishes such askibbeh safarjaliyeh.
Grenadinesyrup, commonly used incocktail, originally consisted of thickened and sweetened pomegranate juice,but today is typically a syrup made just of sugar and commercially produced natural and artificial flavors, preservatives, and food coloring, or using substitute fruits (such as berries).
Before tomatoes (a New World fruit) arrived in the Middle East, pomegranate juice,pomegranate molasses, andvinegarwere widely used in many Iranian foods; this mixture still found in traditional recipes such asfesenjān, a thick sauce made from pomegranate juice and groundwalnuts, usually spooned overduckor otherpoultryand rice, and inash-e anar(pomegranate soup).
Pomegranate seeds are used as a spice known asanar dana(fromPersian:anar + dana, pomegranate + seed), most notably in Indian andPakistani cuisine. Dried whole seeds can often be obtained in ethnic Indian markets. These seeds are separated from the flesh, dried for 10–15 days, and used as an acidic agent forchutneyandcurrypreparation. Groundanardanais also used, which results in deeper flavoring in dishes and prevents the seeds from getting stuck in teeth. Seeds of the wild pomegranate variety known asdarufrom the Himalayas are considered high-quality sources for this spice.
Dried pomegranate seeds, found in some natural specialty food markets, still contain some residual water, maintaining a natural sweet and tart flavor. Dried seeds can be used in several culinary applications, such astrail mix, granola bars, or as a topping for salad, yogurt, or ice cream.
In Turkey, pomegranate sauce (Turkish:nar ekşisi) is used as a salad dressing, to marinate meat, or simply to drink straight. Pomegranate seeds are also used in salads and sometimes as garnish for desserts such asgüllaç.Pomegranate syrup, also called pomegranate molasses, is used inmuhammara, a roastedred pepper, walnut, andgarlicspread popular inSyriaand Turkey.
In Greece, pomegranate is used in many recipes, includingkollivozoumi, a creamy broth made from boiled wheat, pomegranates, andraisins,legumesalad with wheat and pomegranate, traditional Middle Eastern lambkebabswith pomegranate glaze, pomegranateeggplantrelish, andavocado-pomegranate dip. Pomegranate is also made into aliqueur, and as a popularfruit confectioneryused asice creamtopping, mixed withyogurt, or spread asjamon toast.
In Mexico, pomegranate seeds are commonly used to adorn the traditional dishchiles en nogada, representing the red of theMexican flagin the dish which evokes the green (poblano pepper), white (nogadasauce) and red (pomegranate seeds) tricolor.
Pomegranate peels may be used to stain wool and silk in the carpet industry.
The edible portion of raw pomegranate is 78% water, 19%carbohydrates, 2%protein, and 1%fat(table). A 100 g (3.5 oz) serving of pomegranate sarcotesta provides 12% of theDaily Value(DV) forvitamin C, 16% DV forvitamin K, and 10% DV forfolate(table), while the seeds are a rich source ofdietary fiber(20% DV).
Thephenoliccontent of pomegranate juice is degraded by processing andpasteurizationtechniques.
The most abundantphytochemicalsinpomegranate juicearepolyphenols, including thehydrolyzable tanninscalledellagitanninsformed whenellagic acidandgallic acidbind with acarbohydrateto formpomegranate ellagitannins, also known aspunicalagins.The red color of the juice is attributed toanthocyanins,such asdelphinidin,cyanidin, andglycosidesofpelargonidin.Generally, an increase in juicepigmentationoccurs during fruit ripening.
Pomegranate peel contains high amount of polyphenols, condensed tannins,catechins, andprodelphinidins.The higher phenolic content of the peel yieldsextractsfor use indietary supplementsand foodpreservatives.
Pomegranateseed oilcontainspunicic acid(65%),palmitic acid(5%),stearic acid(2%),oleic acid(6%), andlinoleic acid(7%).
Despite limited research data, manufacturers and marketers of pomegranate juice have liberally used results from preliminary research to promote products.In February 2010, the FDA issued awarning letterto one such manufacturer,POM Wonderful, for using published literature to make illegal claims of unproven anti-disease effects.
In May 2016, the USFederal Trade Commissiondeclared that POM Wonderful could not make health claims in its advertising, followed by aUS Supreme Courtruling that declined a request by POM Wonderful to review the court ruling, upholding the FTC decision.
Pomegranate, known asanārinPersian, is a symbol of fertility, blessing, and favor in Iranian belief. Pomegranates are sacred in theZoroastrianreligion and Zoroastrians used it in their religious rituals. The yellow color of the pomegranate stamens symbolizes the sun and light.
The pomegranate tree has been one of the most sacred and holy plants in Iran and is believed to be grown from places where the blood of Siavash (the legendary Iranian character who is known for his innocence) was spilled. It has been mentioned in Iranian Pahlavi scripts as a fruit of heaven. It is also believed that the invulnerability of Esfandiar (Iranian legend) was related to this sacred fruit. The Zoroastrians of Iran believe that pomegranate is a blessed fruit as it is served in their festivals like Mehregan and Nowruz, and especially in their wedding ceremonies to wish for the newly married couple to have healthy children in the future. They also used to plant a pomegranate tree in their fire temples to use its leaves in their ceremonies.
During the Iranian tradition, Yalda Night, people come together on winter solstice and eat pomegranate fruit to celebrate the victory of light over darkness.
In a relief fromPersepolis,Darius the Greatis holding a pomegranate flower with two buds. This Achaemenid king is accepting the representatives of all the subordinate lands of Greater Iran to his presence, while holding a large flower in his hand as a sign of peace and friendship.
Ancient Egyptiansregarded the pomegranate as a symbol of prosperity and ambition. It was referred to by theSemiticnames ofjnhmornhm.According to theEbers Papyrus, one of the oldest medical writings from around 1500 BC, Egyptians used the pomegranate for treatment oftapewormand other infections.
A pomegranate is displayed oncoins from Side, asSidewas the name forpomegranatein the local language, which is the city's name.Theancient Greekcity ofSidewas inPamphylia, a former region on the southern Mediterranean coast of Asia Minor (modern-dayAntalya province, Turkey).
The Greeks were familiar with the fruit far before it was introduced to Rome viaCarthage, and it figures in multiple myths and artworks.InAncient Greek mythology, the pomegranate was known as the "fruit of the dead", and believed to have sprung from the blood ofAdonis.
The myth ofPersephone, the goddess of theunderworld, prominently features her consumption of pomegranate seeds, requiring her to spend a certain number of months in the underworld every year. The number of seeds and therefore months vary. During the months that Persephone sits on the throne of the underworld beside her husbandHades, her motherDemetermourns and no longer gives fertility to the earth. This was an ancient Greek explanation for theseasons.
According toCarl A. P. RuckandDanny Staples, the chambered pomegranate is also a surrogate for the poppy'snarcotic capsule, with its comparable shape and chambered interior.
In another Greek myth, a girl namedSide("pomegranate") killed herself on her mother's grave to avoid suffering rape at the hands of her own fatherIctinus. Her blood transformed into a pomegranate tree.
In the fifth century BC,Polycleitustook ivory and gold to sculpt the seatedArgiveHera in her temple. She held a scepter in one hand and offered a pomegranate, like a "royalorb", in the other."About the pomegranate I must say nothing," whispered the travellerPausaniasin the second century, "for its story is somewhat of a holy mystery".The pomegranate has a calyx shaped like a crown. In Jewish tradition, it has been seen as the original "design" for the proper crown.
Within theHeraion at the mouth of the Sele, nearPaestum,Magna Graecia, is a chapel devoted to theMadonna del Granato, "Our Lady of the Pomegranate", "who by virtue of her epithet and the attribute of a pomegranate must be the Christian successor of the ancient Greek goddess Hera", observes the excavator of theHeraion of Samos, Helmut Kyrieleis.
In modern times, the pomegranate still holds strong symbolic meanings for the Greeks. When one buys a new home, it is conventional for a house guest to bring as a first gift a pomegranate, which is placed under/near theikonostasi(home altar) of the house, as a symbol of abundance, fertility, and good luck. When Greeks commemorate their dead, they makekollyvaas offerings, which consist of boiled wheat, mixed with sugar and decorated with pomegranate. Pomegranate decorations for the home are very common in Greece and sold in most home goods stores.
Some Jewish scholars believe the pomegranate was theforbidden fruitin theGarden of Eden.
Pomegranates were known inAncient Israelas the fruits that thescoutsbrought toMosesto demonstrate the fertility of the "Promised Land".TheBook of Exodusdescribes theme'il("robe of theephod") worn by theHebrew high priestas having pomegranates embroidered on the hem, alternating with golden bells, which could be heard as the high priest entered and left theHoly of Holies. According to theBooks of Kings,the capitals of the two pillars (Jachin and Boaz) that stood in front ofSolomon's TempleinJerusalemwere engraved with pomegranates. Solomon is said to have designed his coronet based on the pomegranate's "crown" (calyx).
Pomegranates are one of theSeven Species(Hebrew: שבעת המינים,Shiv'at Ha-Minim) of fruits and grains enumerated in theHebrew Bible(Deuteronomy 8:8) as special products of theLand of Israel, and the Songs of Solomon mentions pomegranate six timesand contains this particular quote: "Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks." (Song of Solomon 4:3).
The pomegranate appeared on the ancient coins ofJudaea, seeHasmonean,HerodianandFirst Jewish Revolt coinage.
The handles ofTorah scrolls, when not in use, are sometimes covered with decorative silver globes similar in shape to pomegranates (Torah rimmonim).
Consuming pomegranates onRosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, is traditional because, with its numerous seeds, it symbolizes fruitfulness.
The pomegranate is said to have 613 seeds representing the613 commandmentsof theTorah,but it is a misconception. There is no clear source for this claim, although it is used as a metaphor in theTalmudfor numerous good deeds.
In the earliest incontrovertible appearance of Christ in a mosaic, a fourth-century floor mosaic fromHinton St Mary, Dorset, now in theBritish Museum, the bust of Christ and thechi rhoare flanked by pomegranates.Pomegranates continue to be a motif often found inChristianreligious decoration. They are often woven into the fabric ofvestmentsandliturgical hangingsor wrought in metalwork. Pomegranates figure in many religious paintings by the likes ofSandro BotticelliandLeonardo da Vinci, often in the hands of theVirgin Maryor theinfant Jesus. The fruit, broken or bursting open, is a symbol of the fullness of Jesus'sufferingandresurrection.
Chapter 55of theQuranmentions the pomegranate as a "favour" among many to be offered to those fearful to the "Lord" in "twoGardens".
The pomegranate is one of the main fruits inArmenian culture(alongsideapricotsandgrapes). Its juice is used with Armenian food and wine.The pomegranate is a symbol in Armenia, representing fertility, abundance, and marriage.It is also a semireligious icon. For example, the fruit played an integral role in a wedding custom widely practiced in ancient Armenia; a bride was given a pomegranate fruit, which she threw against a wall, breaking it into pieces. Scattered pomegranate seeds ensured the bride's future children.
The Color of Pomegranates, a movie directed bySergei Parajanov, is a biography of the ArmenianashugSayat-Nova(King of Song) which attempts to reveal the poet's life visually and poetically rather than literally.
Every fall theGoychay Pomegranate Festivalis held in the city ofGoychay.
Introduced to China during theHan dynasty(206BC–220AD), the pomegranate (Chinese:石榴;pinyin:shíliu), in older times, was considered an emblem of fertility and numerous progeny. Pictures of the ripe fruit with the seeds bursting forth were often hung in homes to bestow fertility and bless the dwelling with numerous offspring, an important facet of traditionalChinese culture.
In modern times, the pomegranate has been used to symbolise national cohesion and ethnic unity byXi Jinping, urging the Chinese population to "stick together like pomegranate seeds".
In some Hindu traditions, the pomegranate (Sanskrit:dāḍima) symbolizes prosperity and fertility, and is associated with bothBhumi(the earth goddess) andGanesha(the one fond of the many-seeded fruit).
The pomegranate is an important fruit and symbol in Kurdish culture. It is accepted as a symbol of abundance and a sacred fruit of ancient Kurdish religions. Pomegranate is used as a symbol of abundance in Kurdish carpets.