History and Value of Pomegranates

1030 Words3 Pages

One of the oldest cultivated fruits, pomegranates first grew in the Fertile Crescent of Mesopotamia and ancient Persia. The Romans gave it its name -- "pomegranate" literally means "seed apple" in Latin -- and planted the sturdy seedlings throughout their empire. Spain so loved pomegranates that they named the city of Granada after them, according to some historians. The fruit also made its way eastward to India, where its juice was considered a health elixir that cured any number of ills. As modern researchers discover more about the importance of micronutrients and antioxidants to good health, it's beginning to look as though the Ayurvedic specialists of centuries ago were right about pomegranates.

The round red fruit has a symbolic history as rich and varied as its geographic history. Its profusion of seeds linked pomegranate fruit with fertility, while the long-lived trees became associated with rebirth and renewal. Garnets, the rich red gemstone prized throughout the ancient world, took their name from their resemblance to pomegranate seeds. Pomegranates have been the subject of poetry and allegorical tales from Greek mythology to the book of Exodus. Paintings and frescoes depict legendary heroes, gods and goddesses dining on pomegranates.

Nutritional Information

However poetic they may be, pomegranates also have practical value. Nutritionally speaking, pomegranates compare favorably to plenty of more familiar fruits and vegetables. They contain no fat and only 80 calories per 100-gram serving, yet they offer 5 grams of fiber and 15 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C.

Pomegranate juice is almost as popular as whole fruits. Because it's more concentrated, pomegranate juice is slightly...

... middle of paper ...

...ll, so buying them in season ensures a better product.

Most fruits consist of sweet flesh wrapped around inedible seeds. Pomegranates reverse that familiar formula; they're full of translucent juicy seeds surrounded by a fibrous white pith. Separate the delicious seeds from the pith with a sharp rap from the back of a spoon against the back of a pomegranate half. The seeds should shower down from the pith and into the bowl with a few taps from the spoon.

Pomegranate seeds closely resemble the garnets to which they lent their name. Their vivid color and translucency make them a beautiful garnish to ice cream dishes and desserts. Try them in salads, too, where their bursts of tangy juice add a new dimension of taste and texture. Use pomegranate juice anywhere that other fruit juices would go: in glazes and sauces, with mixed fruit drinks and as a frozen treat.

More about History and Value of Pomegranates

Open Document