When the last warm days were left in the past, and the usual apples and pears, plums, cherries and watermelons remained only in the memories, it seems that there are no more natural vitamins to get. We take out compotes and juices from the cellars or buy them in stores, but these are conservation, processed with high temperature and sealed in containers for long storage. And in the cold winter, you want something so bright, real, splashing with solar power and warmth. And to help us come from hot southern countries. Supermarket shelves and market counters are full of orange citrus, fragrant chocolate persimmon and, of course, a dense handsome man in a red skin with a relief pattern of grains of pomegranate. That's about the latter and there will be a speech. We find out where he comes from, what is hidden under his beautiful skin and, most importantly, how to choose the right, sweet and ripe garnet.
Gulchatay! Show your face!
The name of the fruit comes from the Latin word "granatum" and means "granular". Another name of the pomegranate is Punic or Carthaginian apple. So it was christened by the Romans, who defeated the Carthaginians in the 2nd Punic War in memory of this historic event. The native land of pomegranate trees was originally considered to be the coast of the Mediterranean, or rather Phoenic. In the VIII century BC seedlings of this fruit tree migrated to the countries of the middle east, and later to the South American continent.
If you "climb" grenade "under the skin", then our eyes will present a whole scattering of bright red juicy fragrant grains, each of which is an invaluable treasure for our health. And what's there is not! Inside each small grain contains vitamins A, C, E, B1 and B2, PP, trace elements: potassium and calcium, iron and manganese, silicon and iodine. Not to mention glucose, fructose and organic acids. And by the number of antioxidants that rejuvenate our body, pomegranate surpasses even red wine and green tea. But for this to really be present, the fruit must be ripe. And we need to know how and by what criteria to choose a good, mature grenade.
Rules for choosing pomegranate
So, let's get started. Coming to the market or to the store, first of all we examine the product, what it looks like, whether it is good, whether it is pleasant to the eye. The same goes for the grenade. First, look at its cover. The skin should be quite dense and stiff and have a bright red color. Some varieties are also slightly orange, but not more. The second "selfish" sign is relief. The rind must tightly tighten each grain, from which a characteristic grooved pattern appears on its surface. If this is not observed, and the skin itself is too stiff, then the fruit was ripped off before the time, it shrank or rotted.
The next place of close attention should be the inspection of the tip, which was once a flower. It should be dry and match the color of the ripe fruit. Greens, even insignificant, are inadmissible here. If you notice at least one hint of suspicion, safely leave.
Now take a pomegranate in your hand and count it on weight. A truly mature fruit will be much harder than it seems to look. The explanation for this phenomenon is that the ripened and juicing seeds in the aggregate are rather heavy. And even a relatively small fruit can be a real little weight.
Well, and at the end, Ask the seller to demonstrate the contents of the pomegranate, namely, the color and taste of its grains. If everything is in order, the owner of the shop will gladly fulfill your request.