The Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is full of myth and symbolism across cultures. It is mentioned in the Bible, the Koran, the Torah, in Buddhist and Chinese Arts. The fruit is of ancient Persian and Middle Eastern origin. It is known to be one of the first 5 edible fruit crops domesticated by Man along with the fig, date palm, grape and olive around 5,000 years ago. Its best quality fruits are produced in arid regions. The small tree or shrub is recognised for its drought tolerance. Today, the Pomegranate is widely used in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and North-west Indian cooking. Its connection with Persephone in Greek mythology offered ancient Greeks an explanation for the Earth’s seasons.
Name Origin
The name Pomegranate is believed to have emerged from the Latin combination of pomum meaning apple and granatum meaning seeded. Some early usage confusion seems to have associated it with the Spanish city of Granada. However, it is also proposed that granatum describes the red, cochineal colour of pomegranate pulp. (The Pomegranate’s outer appearance is the origin of the weapon grenade via French). The Romans called the Pomegranate malum punicum, meaning punic apple or apple of Carthage. This evolved to give Linnaeus the genus name of Punica, in which there is only one other species in the Lythraceae family.
Grenade-like appearance of the Pomegranate 
Fleshy seeds inside a Pomegranate
King Solomon’s Crown
The Pomegranate’s persistent calyx is said to have inspired wise King Solomon’s crown. This was later the basis for the crowns of European kings.
Pomegranate Know-how
Despite its availability, the Pomegranate does not really seem to have taken off in Western cooking even today. This is perhaps because of its acidic tang and the uncertainty, mess and fiddle in extracting the seeds. (If you wish to persevere, you can find guidance on YouTube).
Pomegranate in Art
It has been used more widely over the centuries as decoration, and especially with symbolic meaning in the Arts. Paintings use the Pomegranate to symbolise fertility, as in the painting of Girl with a Pomegranate from 1875 by the French artist William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) below:
Grenadine
Pomegranate juice is perhaps more familiar in the West. It offers high levels of antioxidants, Vitamins C and K along with other potential health benefits. It is more likely to be used as the non-alcoholic syrup Grenadine in cocktails this Christmas. The most popular cocktails with Grenadine are Singapore Sling and Tequila Sunrise. You can also find mocktail alternative recipes online. Unfortunately, it is not guaranteed that there will be actual Pomegranate juice in your Grenadine, as bars commonly use commercial blackcurrant or raspberry-based substitutes.
References and Further Reading
- Chandra, Ram & Babu, Dhinesh & Jadhav, Vilas & Teixeira da Silva, Jaime. (2010): Origin, History and Domestication of Pomegranate. Fruit, Vegetable and Cereal Science and Biotechnology. Global Science Books. Volume 4, pp.1-6. 25 December 2010. Last accessed 6 December 2019.
- Christenhusz, Maarten J. M. & Fay, Michael F. & Chase, Mark W. (2017): Plants of the World. An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Vascular Plants. Kew, Chicago.
- Idayatova, Sabina (2014): Pomegranate: A Crowned Fruit. Azernews. 13 January 2014. Last accessed 6 December 2019.
- My Jewish Learning (2002-19): 9 Jewish Things About Pomegranates. Why this ancient fruit is a Jewish symbol. Last accessed 6 December 2019.
- Van Wyk, Ben-Erik (2005): Food Plants of the World. An Illustrated Guide. Timber Press. Portland, Oregon, USA.
Copyright Note
Karen does not seek or receive any commercial interest or advantage from this blog. She is not promoting any business venture. She simply loves to share fascinating facts about plants. These pages illustrate her love of plants, botany, biodiversity, gardens and creative expression. There is always so much to learn about plant diversity. This blog is designed as a showcase for photography, commentary on plants and wildlife, gardens and other places visited, horticulture and related topics. Viewpoints are her own, not those of her employer.
© Karen Andrews 2018 onwards. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Karen Andrews and BotanyKaren.net with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.