When sun is beating down in garden, nothing better than cooling off (or lounging) with a little grenadine in shade of trees. But rather than giving in to industrial grenadine (which is grenadine in name only), why not make your own homemade pomegranate syrup? It's an excellent way to enjoy benefits and unique flavour of this exotic fruit. Especially if you have a pomegranate tree in garden! Or failing that, by buying pomegranates from local greengrocer. Discover our recipe and tips to prepare a delicious homemade pomegranate syrup, perfect for enhancing drinks, desserts and dishes.
Is it possible to have pomegranates in garden?
To start, it is important to distinguish two types of pomegranate trees: fruiting ones and flowering ones. Then, although most fruiting pomegranate trees can withstand frosts down to -12 °C, they need a long, hot summer to fruit. In short, to get pomegranates you need a Mediterranean garden with plenty of sun and well-drained soil.
Which pomegranate variety to choose?
Among varieties, pomegranate 'Wonderful' and pomegranate 'Mollar de Elche' stand out for their large, juicy fruits, with sweet flavour, tiny tender seeds, perfect for juices.
Both varieties are self-fertile, although they produce more when grown alongside a second pomegranate tree. After planting, you generally have to wait 2 to 3 years to start seeing first fruits
For more information, read our article: "Fruiting pomegranate: planting, growing, harvesting"
When to harvest pomegranates?
Harvest of pomegranates generally takes place between September and November. A ripe pomegranate is recognised by its firm, smooth skin and bright colour. To harvest, it is preferable to cut fruits with a clean, disinfected pruning shear, to avoid damaging tree and fruits.
And if you don't have a pomegranate tree in garden?
If you aren't lucky enough to have a pomegranate tree that fruits in garden, all is not lost! You can also buy organic pomegranates from your greengrocer or pomegranate juice to make this recipe.
Pomegranate syrup recipe
Ingredients
For 500 ml of pomegranate syrup, you'll need:
- 4 to 5 ripe pomegranates (1 pomegranate generally yields 60 ml of juice) or 250 ml of pomegranate juice;
- 250 g white sugar (you should have equal weight of sugar and pomegranate juice);
- facultative: juice of half an organic lemon.
Recipe steps
Before starting: sterilise your bottle that will hold the syrup by plunging it 3–4 minutes into boiling water.
1- Cut pomegranates in half
2- Press pomegranates with a citrus juicer, as for an orange, to extract juice.
3- Pass juice through a fine sieve (such as a muslin cloth or a chinois) to remove pulp residues and small seeds.
Alternative: if you have a juicer, remove pomegranate skins and place juicy arils in to extract juice.
4- In a saucepan, mix pomegranate juice, sugar and lemon juice (facultative).
5- Place saucepan over medium heat, then bring to the boil, stirring regularly.
6- Let simmer over medium heat for about 3 minutes.
7- Pour hot syrup into your sterilised bottle and seal tightly. Let cool before storing in fridge.
Storage and use of pomegranate syrup
Storage
You can store your syrup for 3 to 4 weeks in fridge. Lemon juice helps improve preservation. Pomegranate syrup should remain clear and syrupy. If you notice a change of colour, an unpleasant smell or signs of mould, it is time to throw it away.
Ideas for use
- Drinks: Add 1 part syrup to 5 parts water (still or sparkling) for a refreshing drink. Pomegranate syrup is also used to flavour cocktails and pairs wonderfully with orange juice.
- Desserts: Pour syrup over crêpes, waffles, ice cream or yoghurts.
- Marinades and dressings: Use syrup to marinate meats or to prepare sweet-and-savoury dressings. Delicious!
Pomegranate syrup and grenadine — are they the same?
When people hear "grenadine" they often think syrup is made from pomegranate. While that should be the case, reality is very different! True, it is found in Spain, but in France and Belgium commercial grenadine syrup usually contains artificial pomegranate flavourings and colourings, or a mix of red fruit syrups (redcurrant, blackcurrant, elderberry and raspberry) and vanilla. You can see this by reading labels. However, a few artisans in our latitudes still make grenadine syrups from pomegranate, and you'll find their products in specialist shops.
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