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Thursday 15 March 2012

Pomegranate; Punica granatum;

A washing line full of diamonds;


Shimmering intensity of the flowers;

The name pomegranate derives from medieval Latin pomum "apple" and granatum "seeded". 
The genus name Punica refers to the Phoenicians, who were active in broadening its cultivation, partly for religious reasons.
Garnet comes from Old French grenat by metathesis, from Medieval Latin granatum, here used in a a different meaning: "of a dark red color". This meaning perhaps originated from pomum granatum because of the color of pomegranate pulp.



The fruit;
The pomegranate, Punica granatum, is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing between five and eight meters tall.

How to prepare a Pomegranate; cut off the top and the bottom. Break apart; 
Look at these wonderfully, glistening seed casings.



After opening the pomegranate by scoring it with a knife and breaking it open, the arils (seed casings) are separated from the peel and internal white pulp membranes. Separating the red arils is easier in a bowl of water, because the arils sink and the inedible pulp floats.  



...like this, in a bowl of water, you can then just scoop off the bitter pulp membranes.




The arils ready to be used, eaten, savored, don't they look absolutely brilliant, so good!


The Pomegranate;


Pick me now, 
flecked with ruby red gems
sitting row upon row, 
Seductive, 
scented by a thousand suns
in plentitude and exuberance.  
©Ts


Nutrients and phytochemicals

Pomegranate aril juice provides about 16% of an adult's daily vitamin C requirement per 100 ml serving, and is a good source of vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), potassium and polyphenols, such as tannins and falconoid.
Pomegranate’s fiber  is entirely contained in the edible seeds which also supply unsaturated oils. People who choose to discard the seeds forfeit nutritional benefits conveyed by the seed fiber, oils and micronutrients.

The most abundant polyphenols in pomegranate juice are the hydrolyzable tannins called ellagitannins formed when ellagic acid binds with a carbohydrate. Punicalagins are tannins with free-radical scavenging properties in laboratory experiments. Punicalagins are absorbed into the human body and  have dietary value as antioxidants.  During intestinal metabolism by bacteria, ellagitannins and punicalagins are converted to urolithins which have unknown biological activity in vivo. Other phytochemicals include polyphenolic catechins, gallocatechins, and anthocyanins, such as prodelphinidins, delphinidin, cyanidin, and pelargonidin. The ORAC (antioxidant capacity) of pomegranate juice was measured at 2,860 units per 100 grams.

More facts about Punica granatum please click here







DREAM on, for dreams are sweet:
    Do not awaken!
Dream on, and at thy feet
    Pomegranates shall be shaken.

Who likeneth the youth
    Of life to morning?
'Tis like the night in truth,
    Rose-coloured dreams adorning.

The wind is soft above,
    The shadows umber.
(There is a dream called Love.)
    Take thou the fullest slumber!

In Lethe's soothing stream,
    Thy thirst thou slakest.
Sleep, sleep; 't is sweet to dream.
    Oh, weep when thou awakest!
Paul Laurence Dunbar




Believe it or not:
Distant hills look green.  

©Ts

12 comments:

  1. After reading your post I am definitely buying some pomegranates
    for us.
    Love your 'diamond' washing line picture.
    LG Gisela.

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  2. Your shots are beautiful of the pomegranate. They do so well here in Tucson. Our tree is just starting to leaf out. I love the fruit and I have to be careful not to stain my clothes because these little seeds love to burst forth from the fruit. Looks like you have some lovely weather in your area. Hope you are well.

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    Replies
    1. Rohrerbot, thank you so much for your visit. Glad to hear from you. all is well here but I have not been around for a while. I had a break from blogging; or I did just a little. If you clean them from their membranes in the water, it is much easier to control their bursting into all directions.T♥

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  3. Hi Gisela, thank you for your comment, I think pomegranates have become very popular fruit. They lend themselves to glory up desserts and any meal! Also very good for you. T♥

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  4. Your spider web shots are just brilliant. It looks as if it's covered in little diamonds. Having never eaten a pomegranate, it sounds as if I've been missing out. We don't see them growing up here or stocked in the supermarkets.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Bernie, thank you for your kindness. The pomegranate is a Mediterranian tree, I am not sure if it would grow in your tropics, perhaps it will, You would love the flowers, it is very ornamental and quite fast growing.T♥

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  5. I've always thought of pomegranates as growing in the Sounthern States - Now you've shown that you can grow it in Qld. (Love the diamond too - great photo)

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  6. Missy, yes it grows very well here. Thank you for your comment. T♥

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  7. Liebe Titania

    Sogar Granatäpfel gedeihen in eurem Garten *staun*. Seit Kurzem habe ich die Frucht entdeckt, und festgestellt, dass sie mir sehr gut schmeckt, ab und zu kaufe ich mir nun eine, von Brasilien oder sonst von einem weitentfernten Land werden sie meist importiert. Nun weiss ich auch wie gut sie mir tut, nachdem ich deinen Post gelesen habe.
    Ich wünsche dir ein schönes Wochenende und schicke dir
    liebe Grüsse
    Elfe

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  8. It looks a beautiful fruit and tastes nice too but a bit of a bother to prepare. Do I sound lazy or what? Great shots especially the spider's web.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Diane, if you prepare them under the water, cut first top and bottom and then you can just break them apart and the seeds come away easily and the bitter membranes swim on top of the water. Thank you for your visit.

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  9. Sali Elfe, danke für's Bsüechli. Gell, die sind fein und und sehen auch schoen aus. Gut, dass sie dir schmecken. Herzlichst T♥

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