Pomegranate Power

Pomegranates beckon at this time of year, with their shiny, red skins and pretty crown-like tops. Pile pomegranates into a decorative bowl for a holiday centerpiece — then crack them open to enjoy the jewel-bright arils in salads, drinks and desserts.

Nervous about seeding a pomegranate because of the squirting red juice? No worries — just follow these steps:

1. Press and roll pomegranate gently on hard surface to loosen seeds.
2. Use knife to score fruit around the center, then tear in half.
3. Submerge halves in bowl of water, massaging seeds with fingers to release them from the pith.
4. The pith will float to the surface while the seeds (also known as arils) will sink.
5. Remove and discard pith. Rinse and drain arils.

Or you can embrace the mess. In Greece, it’s a tradition to smash a pomegranate against the front door on New Year’s Eve, and scoring a spot of the bright red juice on your clothes is said to bring good luck.

Pomegranates are packed with powerful antioxidants called polyphenols that have been shown to decrease risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and even obesity. Each one provides this much of the total daily recommended amount:

• 30% vitamin C
• 36% vitamin K
• 16% folate
• 12% potassium
• 20% fiber (about 6–8 grams)

How much do you know about pomegranates? Test your knowledge with these five questions.

1. Botanically speaking, pomegranates are actually…

a. Berries

b. Apples

c. Roses

2. The oldest pomegranate trees can live to be…

a. 50 years old

b. 200 years old

c. 1,000 years old

3. On average, how many seeds (or arils) are inside a pomegranate?

a. 125–200

b. 350–400

c. 600+

4. What does “pomegranate” mean?

a. Grainy apple or apple with many seeds

b. Royal crown

c. Sacred fruit

5. How much fiber is in one pomegranate?

a. 2–4 grams

b. 6–8 grams

c. 10–12 grams

_{ANSWERS: a, b, c, c, b}

Sweet-tart pomegranate juice and arils are surprisingly versatile, adding vibrant flavor and color to both sweet and savory recipes. Poms pair well with dark chocolate in our Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Bites for a holiday treat that’s on the healthier side. Or switch up classic cranberry sauce by stirring in juicy pomegranate seeds. You can also toss pom seeds into salads for a festive red and green dish that really pops on the holiday table. And that’s not all! Pomegranate arils and juice mix well in mocktails and cocktails, too. See for yourself with our super simple Ginger-Pom Mocktail combining pomegranate juice, lime, mint, and either ginger ale or kombucha for fun fizz.