Pomegranate juice facts for kids

Squeezed pomegranate juice

A worker preparing juice from pomegranates at a market in Istanbul, Turkey

Pomegranate juice is a super tasty and healthy drink! It's made from the juicy seeds inside the bright red pomegranate fruit. People enjoy it fresh, and it's also used in cooking as a thick, yummy syrup.

Pomegranate Juice: A Sweet and Tangy Drink

Pomegranates are ancient fruits, loved for thousands of years. The juice is packed with good things for your body. It has a unique taste that's both sweet and a little bit tart. This makes it perfect for drinking on its own or adding to different recipes.

What is Pomegranate Molasses?

Pomegranate molasses is a special kind of fruit syrup. It's not like the molasses made from sugarcane. Instead, it's made only from pomegranate juice! It comes from a very tart (sour) type of pomegranate.

How is Pomegranate Molasses Made?

To make pomegranate molasses, the juice is slowly heated. This makes the water in the juice evaporate, or boil away. As the water leaves, the juice gets thicker and darker. It becomes a concentrated liquid, which means all the flavor is packed into a smaller amount. This process is called a reduction in cooking.

Where is Pomegranate Molasses Used?

Pomegranate molasses is a popular ingredient in many cuisines, especially in the Middle East. It adds a wonderful tangy and slightly sweet flavor to dishes.

• In Iranian cooking, it's a key ingredient in a stew called fesenjān.
• In Turkish and Azerbaijani cooking, it's used in dolma (stuffed vegetables) and fresh salads like çoban salatası.
• It's also known by different names:
  • In Persian, it's called رب انار (rob e ænar).
  • In Arabic, it's دبس رمّان (dibs rumman).
  • In Turkish, it's nar ekşisi.
  • In Azerbaijani, it's narşərab.

Fun Facts About Pomegranates

Pomegranates are amazing fruits with a long history!

• They are native to the region from Iran to northern India.
• The word "pomegranate" comes from Latin words meaning "apple with many seeds."
• Each pomegranate fruit can hold hundreds of tiny, juicy seeds called arils. These are the parts we eat and use to make juice.
• Pomegranates are often seen as symbols of good luck and health in many cultures.