Pomegranate: vitamins, kitchen uses and traditional herbal reputation

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Split a pomegranate open and you get a cupful of glassy, ruby arils that are sweet, sharp and faintly astringent all at once. This page is for anyone with a fruit on the counter or a tree in a sunny corner: what the fruit and flowers actually contain, what herbalists and naturopathy have long made of them, how to use each part at home, and the one part of the tree to leave well alone.

What it is credited with

• Herbalists class the fruit among the antioxidant-rich foods, on account of its vitamin C and polyphenol content, and recommend it simply as a regular part of the diet.
• Naturopathy credits the juice with a tonic, energising quality, which is why it is often suggested at breakfast rather than late in the day.
• Because the fruit brings fibre and is considered mildly diuretic, it has a long reputation in naturopathy as part of spring cleansing or “detox” regimes, and in eating plans aimed at lighter, lower-calorie meals.
• The flowers are astringent, and an infusion of them is traditionally used in folk herbalism to settle a loose, unsettled gut.
• Gargling diluted pomegranate juice is a household tradition for a scratchy, tickly throat, valued for its tannic, drying feel.
• Old herbals also used the bark of the tree as a worming remedy. This use has been abandoned, and for good reason — see the cautions below.

How to use it

Opening the fruit

• Score the skin around the middle with a knife, then prise the two halves apart rather than cutting through.
• Hold a half face-down over a bowl and tap the skin firmly with a wooden spoon; the arils drop out.
• Peel away every scrap of the pale membrane — it is bitter and astringent.

Raw arils, the everyday way

• Eat them by the spoonful as they are; the seed inside each aril is edible and adds crunch.
• Scatter a small handful over a green salad with rocket (arugula) or lamb’s lettuce (corn salad).
• Stir through a fruit salad, yoghurt or porridge at breakfast.
• Best used within a day or two of opening, kept covered in the fridge.

Juice

• Press the arils through a sieve with the back of a ladle, or spin them briefly in a blender and strain.
• One medium fruit yields roughly half a tumbler of juice — drink it fresh, in the morning.
• For a throat gargle, dilute the juice half-and-half with warm water, gargle and spit; repeat once or twice in the day for a day or two, no longer.

Flower infusion

• Use about a teaspoon of dried flowers per cup of just-boiled water.
• Cover and steep 10 minutes, then strain. The brew is tannic and drying — a little honey helps.
• Traditional use keeps it to a cup or two across a day, and to a short run of two or three days, not a standing habit.
• Adults only, and not to be relied on in place of proper advice if anything persists.

Cooked and preserved

• Simmer strained juice with sugar down to a syrup, or further to a thick, tart molasses for dressings and marinades.
• Make jam from the arils — pleasant, though heat carries off some of the delicate perfume.
• Splash the molasses over roast vegetables, grilled meat or a plate of hummus.

Frequently Asked Questions

The one thing to remember: eat the arils and drink the fresh juice freely as food, keep flower infusions short and occasional, and never touch the bark.

Which part of the pomegranate can I actually use at home?

The arils and the juice pressed from them, for eating and drinking, and the dried flowers for a short-lived astringent infusion. The bark, root and stems are off the table — their alkaloids are poisonous. Medicinal use of the plant itself is not recommended, and is prohibited for children and pregnant or nursing women.

When is a pomegranate ripe?

Fruit on the tree comes to maturity in early to mid-autumn, and only ripens fully in areas with very mild climates. A ripe one feels heavy for its size and sounds slightly metallic when tapped. The flowers, if you want to dry them, are gathered from late spring to midsummer.

Does pomegranate help you lose weight?

It is fibre-rich, mildly diuretic and comes in at around 70 kcal per 3.5 oz (100 g), which is why naturopathy has long given it a place in cleansing regimes and lighter eating plans. That is a reputation, not a result. It works best as a satisfying, low-calorie addition to meals you were going to eat anyway.

Can I drink pomegranate juice every day if I take medication?

Check first. Pomegranate juice is known to interact with several medicines, much as grapefruit juice does, so a daily glass is worth clearing with a pharmacist or doctor — particularly alongside blood-thinners or blood-pressure and cholesterol medicines.

What does the flower infusion taste like?

Dry, tannic and puckering, rather like over-brewed black tea with a floral edge. A little honey rounds it off. Tradition keeps it to a cup or two in a day over a couple of days, for adults only.

This information is provided for general interest and reflects the traditional use of plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice. If you are on medication, pregnant, or in any doubt, ask a healthcare professional.