Description
Experience the vibrant, tangy-sweet taste of our pomegranates, perfect for snacking, adding to salads, blending into smoothies, or garnishing desserts for a burst of colour and flavour. Available in our Local Farm Shop in Bellaghy, Mid Ulster Area.
🍎 The pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree that’s as rich in symbolism as it is in flavor. Here’s a juicy breakdown:
🌿 Botanical Features
- Grows between 5 to 10 meters tall with spiny branches
- Leaves are glossy, narrow, and oblong
- Bright red flowers bloom at branch tips, often with 3–7 petals
- The fruit is round, about the size of an orange, with a thick, leathery red skin
🍒 Fruit Anatomy
- Inside, it’s divided into chambers filled with hundreds of seeds, each wrapped in a juicy, ruby-red sac called an aril
- The juice is tart and vibrant, packed with polyphenols and anthocyanins
- Botanically classified as a berry, despite its tough exterior
🌍 Origins & Cultivation
- Native to regions from Iran to northern India
- Widely cultivated across the Mediterranean, Middle East, South Asia, and parts of California
- Thrives in hot, dry climates and tolerates moderate frost
🧬 Cultural & Historical Significance
- Symbol of fertility, prosperity, and eternal life in many cultures
- Featured in Greek mythology, Biblical texts, and ancient Egyptian tombs
- The name comes from Latin: pomum (apple) + granatum (seeded)
🥗 Uses & Benefits
- Eaten fresh, juiced, or used in cooking and baking
- Source of vitamin C, K, folic acid, and dietary fiber
- Juice is used to make grenadine syrup and adds flair to cocktails and desserts
