It
seems the United States is enjoying a wave of
pomegranate fever. The striking red color and
refreshing flavor of this Asian import are showing
up all over the grocery store – as syrups,
in fruit juice drinks, even flavoring trendy vodka
variations. Rumor has it this fruit has been around
since the beginning of time.
Some people believe the forbidden
fruit that got the best of Eve in the Garden of
Eden was a pomegranate. The tree’s botanical
name, Punica granatum, tells us where it came
from and describes its appearance. The area once
known as Punicus became the North African colony
Carthage and poma granata is Latin for seeded
apple.
King Solomon decorated the pillars
of his temples with a pomegranate motif according
to the Old Testament and the Ebers Papyrus, written
in Egypt about 4,000 years ago, mentions the fruit,
too. According to Greek mythology, Pluto abducted
Persephone to his underworld kingdom where she
ate a pomegranate, symbol of union, and remains
forever bound to Pluto.
Pliny the Elder used pomegranate
root bark in the first century to expel tapeworms
and traditional Indian medicine uses the bitter
rind to treat dysentery. The strongly astringent
qualities of the fruit are used to relieve diarrhea
and the antibacterial properties of the leaves
were once used to help heal minor skin wounds
and abrasions.
If you’re the trendy type,
enjoy your pomegranate juice as a refreshing beverage
or sauce for fruits and desserts. You can even
eat the seeds, which make an interesting addition
to salads, breads, and pastries.
If you’re not so much
the trendy type, don’t fear being left behind.
You probably enjoyed the refreshing red juice
of the pomegranate when you were a kid. Remember
how much fun it was to sip on a “sophisticated”
Shirley Temple or Roy Rogers cocktail? That sticky,
red syrup used to flavor those children’s
favorites is grenadine, made from sweetened pomegranate
juice.
Reference
Kruger, Anna; An Illustrated Guide to Herbs: Their
Medicine and Magic; A Dragon’s World Book;
Limpsfield and London; 1993
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