Pomegranate Juice

The pomegranate has been well known for years as the "jewel of winter." The pomegranate is about the size of an average orange or apple. It has a tough skin, and it is dark red to brownish in color. The seeds and the juicy translucent scarlet red pulp are the edible parts of the fruit. Most of the pomegranate's flavor is wrapped in the seeds. The flavor of these juicy seeds is delicate, sweet, and tangy. The membrane is what encases the seeds and is white, spongy and has a very bitter taste.

Pomegranates have also been recently sought after for their health benefits. The pomegranate has a high potential for disease-fighting antioxidants. Researchers have found studies that suggest pomegranate juice may contain about three times the antioxidant ability compared approximately with the same quantity of green tea or red wine. It is also quite high in potassium and fiber, and contains vitamin C and niacin. Pomegranate juice has been used to treat inflammation, sore throats, and rheumatism. This has been done for centuries in the Middle East, India, and Iran.

Varieties of Pomegranates

Because of the wide fruit variation arising from seedlings, many pomegranate varieties have been selected and grown from cuttings through the centuries. The most commonly gown commercial variety in the U.S. is the Wonderful variety. Other varieties include the Grenada, Early Foothill, and Early Wonderful.

The pink or red-flowered type includes most of the common and desirable commercial varieties of pomegranates. The fruit is round oblate or obviate in form. The outside skin varies in thickness. The outside and inside color also varies from off-white to a purplish or vibrant crimson color. The seeds of the pomegranate also vary in size and hardness. Certain fruits almost seem to be "seedless", while others are almost inedible because the seeds are so large and solid. However, if you are looking for a great tasting, sweet, and juicy pomegranate, you should choose ones that are white or pinkish in color. The dark red to brownish fruits are usually bitterer and have larger, more solid seeds.

Wonderful is definitely the most widely grown pomegranate in California. This variety is large and deep purplish -red with a glossy appearance. The seeds and juice are deep crimson with fantastic flavor. The seeds are small and tender, and the rind has only a medium thickness. The Wonderful Pomegranate also makes for a great backyard tree, especially if you like making your own fresh pomegranate juice. The Wonderful Pomegranate was discovered around 1896 in Porterville from a fresh cutting in Florida. The fruit matures in late September and October.

Granada. This variety is grown in broad areas in Tulare County. The fruit matures early, around the middle of August. It's deep crimson in color and is smaller than the Wonderful Pomegranate.

Ruby Red. This fruit is crimson-purple in color and is used more for eating than juicing. Its maturity time and size is about the same as the Wonderful. Ruby Red does not store very well, so make sure that you use this one within a short time after purchasing.

Foothill Early. This fruit matures about 1 to 2 weeds earlier than Wonderful, and is also a recent introduction in Central California. This fruit has pink to dark red seeds, with a medium-red skin. These pomegranates are sweeter in taste than the Wonderful.

Spanish Sweet or Paper shell is only grown to a limited extent in backyard trees, and is no longer a commercially marketed variety. The fruit is large and pale pink with a sweet juicy flavor.

Shopping

The pomegranate's seeds represent 52% of the total weight of the fruit, so you should try to pick a heavier fruit because most of the fruit's juice comes from the seed. The skin should be shiny, taut and thin. The skin should be free of any cracks or splits.

Storage

You may store pomegranates in a dark, cool place, such as a cupboard for up to one month. You may store them in your refrigerator for up to two months depending on the maturity and ripeness of the fruit.

The seeds can be refrigerated for approximately three days. If you wish to freeze the seeds, place them in an airtight container or plastic bag, and they should keep in the freezer for up to six months. When the seeds thaw, they won't be edible anymore as fresh seeds. Instead, they will be ideal to use for juicing. During the freezing process, the seeds will break down the cell walls of the pulp surrounding them, and as they thaw, they will naturally give up their juice. You may also keep your pomegranate juice in the freezer for up to six months.

Health and nutrition benefits of drinking pomegranate juice

One fresh pomegranate contains

• 105 calories
• 0.5 grams of fat
• 0.1 grams of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats
• 0.9 grams of dietary fiber
• 2 grams of protein
• 27 grams of carbohydrates
• 0 cholesterol
• 5 mg of sodium
• 0.9 mg of manganese

Researchers have found that pomegranate juice can act against prostate cancer cells. "Pomegranate juice, a deep red juice, becoming popular as a health drink, works against prostate cancer cells in lab dishes and in mice," U.S. researchers have reported. "Prostate tumors shrank in mice infected with human prostate tumors that drank pomegranate juice," researchers reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The juice is known to be rich in antioxidants that make fruits and vegetables have their vibrant colors. These antioxidants also damage cells that lead to cancer and other such diseases. "Our study adds to growing evidence that pomegranate juice contains very powerful agents against cancer, particularly prostate cancer," Dr. Hasan Mukhtar states, a professor of dermatology at the University of Wisconsin Medical School. The juice has been tested in humans as well, and has been shown to have some positive effects in trying to battle prostate cancer.

Another study suggests that pomegranate juice may also help fight heart disease. In the mythology of ancient Babylonia, pomegranates were believed to be an agent of resurrection. Today, there is scientific evidence for the wild fruit's restorative powers. The antioxidants in the juice may also help bring down the formation of fat deposits on artery walls.

History of Pomegranates

In ancient Greece, the pomegranate was known to be the fruit of the dead. In Hebrew tradition, pomegranates adorned the vestments of the high priest. Ancient Persians believed that pomegranate seeds made their warriors invincible. In China, the fruit symbolized longevity so if you ate the fruit or its juice you would live a long and healthy life.