The pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree in the family Lythraceae that grows between 5 and 8 m tall.
The fruit is typically in season in the Northern Hemisphere from September to February, and in the Southern Hemisphere from March to May. As intact arils or juice, pomegranates are used in baking, cooking, juice blends, meal garnishes, smoothies, and alcoholic beverages, such as cocktails and wine.
The pomegranate originated in the region extending from modern-day Iran through Afghanistan and Pakistan to northern India, and has been cultivated since ancient times throughout the Mediterranean region.
P. granatum is grown for its fruit crop, and as ornamental trees and shrubs in parks and gardens. Mature specimens can develop sculptural twisted-bark multiple trunks and a distinctive overall form. Pomegranates are drought-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 from fungal diseases. They can be tolerant of moderate frost, down to about 12 °C.
After the pomegranate is opened by scoring it with a knife and breaking it open, the seeds are separated from the peel and internal white pulp membranes. Separating the seeds is easier in a bowl of water because the seeds sink and the inedible pulp floats. Freezing the entire fruit also makes it easier to separate. Another effective way of quickly harvesting the seeds is to cut the pomegranate in half, score each half of the exterior rind four to six times, hold the pomegranate half over a bowl, and smack the rind with a large spoon. The seeds should eject from the pomegranate directly into the bowl, leaving only a dozen or more deeply embedded seeds to remove. The entire seed is consumed raw, though the watery, tasty sarcotesta is the desired part. The taste differs depending on the variety or cultivar of pomegranate and its ripeness.
Pomegranate juice can be sweet or sour, but most fruits are moderate in taste, with sour notes from the acidic ellagitannins contained in the juice. Pomegranate juice has long been a popular drink in Europe, the Middle East and is now widely distributed in Australia, United States and Canada.
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| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 346 kJ (83 kcal) |
|
18.7 g
|
|
| Sugars | 13.67 g |
| Dietary fiber | 4 g |
|
1.17 g
|
|
|
1.67 g
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| Vitamins | |
| Thiamine (B1) |
(6%)
0.067 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) |
(4%)
0.053 mg |
| Niacin (B3) |
(2%)
0.293 mg |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) |
(8%)
0.377 mg |
| Vitamin B6 |
(6%)
0.075 mg |
| Folate (B9) |
(10%)
38 ?g |
| Choline |
(2%)
7.6 mg |
| Vitamin C |
(12%)
10.2 mg |
| Vitamin E |
(4%)
0.6 mg |
| Vitamin K |
(16%)
16.4 ?g |
| Minerals | |
| Calcium |
(1%)
10 mg |
| Iron |
(2%)
0.3 mg |
| Magnesium |
(3%)
12 mg |
| Manganese |
(6%)
0.119 mg |
| Phosphorus |
(5%)
36 mg |
| Potassium |
(5%)
236 mg |
| Sodium |
(0%)
3 mg |
| Zinc |
(4%)
0.35 mg |
|
|
|
|
|
| Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient Database |
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