Pomegranate seeds are gorgeous. They’re shiny and bright red – the ideal fruit for the holiday season. They’re sweet, yet tart; juicy and crunchy, all at the same time. Best of all, pomegranates are loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants. They’re believed to contribute to a healthy heart.
Fun Facts
- Pomegranates probably got their name from the French word Fifteenth century grenades were filled with tiny pockets of gunpowder, similar to the masses of seeds in a pomegranate.
- Some researchers believe pomegranates, not apples, might have been the forbidden fruit spoken of in the Bible.
- DaVinci used pomegranates in his paintings.
- Pomegranates originated in Persia and were common throughout the Middle East. Spanish explorers brought them to America. Thomas Jefferson planted them at Monticello.
- Pomegranate juice is naturally antibacterial. Its juice has the strength of prescription mouthwash.
- The season for pomegranates is brief – from October to January. Lucky for us, they can be frozen for up to three months or stored in the refrigerator for one month.
Vocabulary
- Gorgeous: beautiful
- Tart: sour
- Antibacterial: capable of killing bacteria
Questions and Answers
Question: Can I grow pomegranates at home?
Answer: Pomegranates grow on thorned, shrubby trees or bushes. They don’t tolerate cold winters and grow in places, such as Texas and Arizona, that have warm, dry weather.
Learn More
Learn how to get the seeds out of a pomegranate.
