A fruit full of virtues

by Elizabeth Shaheen
Whilst recently in Cairo, I succumbed to the temptation of enticing, small melon-sized pomegranates on display at the local fruit shop.

Their outer skins were blood-red and their size greatly at variance to the standard text descriptions of the pomegranate, which is “about two to five inches in diameter” or “the size of a small orange or apple and yellow-orange in colour overlaid with pink or red”.

One would keep me well occupied, for the peeling in itself took time, but the promise of what it would reveal was all consuming.

Now I understand my mother’s wisdom, for as a child she would hand me a ready-scored pomegranate to eat, insisting that it was good for me.

It certainly was that, but it would also have kept me very busy for a good while.

This Egyptian pomegranate was practically bursting with ruby-red sacs of pulp, which was as sweet as could be.

Characteristically, membranous walls compartmentalised its interior and a white spongy tissue known as “rag” was crammed with the ruby beads of pulp known as the “aril”, which may also be pink or almost white.

In each sac was a hard, brown seed, but these seeds may be white. In addition, they may be soft, which are not nearly as enjoyable as crunching the hard sort.

The seeds represent around 52 per cent of the weight of the whole fruit and the healthful secrets of the pomegranate are said to be found in a single drop of its precious seed oil.

The pomegranate, botanically known as Punica granatum, is well-suited to Bahrain’s soil conditions and climate. This genus consists of two species of rounded, deciduous shrubs or trees, with one species occurring from southeast Europe and southwest Asia to the Himalayas, and the other from Socotra (Yemen).

The pomegranate was cultivated in Egypt before the time of Moses and in ancient Babylon, Iran, Libya and India, where it is mentioned in Sanskrit writings.

Pliny called the plant ‘malum punicum’ for Punic apple and the Egyptians and Greeks regarded it as sacred.

For the ancient Egyptians, pomegranates were a symbol of safe passage into the next life and were found placed together with the treasure discovered in King Tutankhamen’s tomb.

The Greeks revered it as a symbol of fertility because of its abundance of seeds.

In ancient Greek mythology, Persephone ate the pomegranate and was reborn every spring.

It is thought that Jang Qian, a Han dynasty delegate, introduced the pomegranate into China around 100BC.

To celebrate a fruitful union, guests at Chinese weddings were served pomegranates, and the juice was perceived to bestow longevity or even immortality!

Some scholars hold the conviction that in the Garden of Eden, it was the pomegranate and not the apple that tempted Eve.

Not only did the Romans take pleasure in the succulent fruit, but also the tanned rind served as a form of leather.

The flesh of a cut pomegranate is represented in many Italian Renaissance fabrics.

In mediaeval textile motifs, the pomegranate is the symbol of Spain and the personal badge of Catherine of Aragon portrayed a crowned pomegranate.

The words ‘grenade’ and ‘garnet’, also the name of the Spanish town Granada, are all derived from the name of this plant.

The pomegranate has also been venerated for its medicinal attributes. In ancient Persia, it was administered to treat internal ailments, such as hypertension, gastric inflammation and diabetes as well as external skin disorders and diseases.

It was employed to treat infertility and menopausal symptoms, owing to its inherent phytoestrogens.

The Greek physician Hippocrates (c 460-377BC), who is known as the ‘Father of Medicine’, prescribed a daily dose of six pomegranate seeds to maintain optimal health.

For centuries, it was the fruit of choice for kings and nobles. This was perhaps due to the fruit bearing a persistent calyx that resembles the shape of a princely crown.

The pomegranate’s virtues have been celebrated in the literature of Chaucer, Homer and Shakespeare.

A syrup made from the pomegranate is widely used in the Middle East and is variously named pomegranate molasses, concentrated pomegranate juice or pomegranate essence.

Its tart and piquant flavour provides a marvellous ingredient for livening up many culinary creations and is readily available in Bahrain’s food shops.

Today, the pomegranate is recognised for its disease-fighting antioxidants, and is reputed to contain almost three times that found in the same quantity of green tea and red tea, although the food and drug administration is still to evaluate these claims.

Cultivation

It is a most attractive, much-branched plant, growing 20ft or 30ft high and quite spiny. It has a strong tendency to sucker from the base.

These suckers can be removed and grown to form new plants. The smooth and leathery lanceolate leaves may be evergreen or deciduous, occurring opposite or in whorls of five or six.

The plant is often grown for the beauty of its flowers alone, for they are a brilliant red and ornamental in design. These are followed by nearly round, leathery-skinned fruit crowned with a persistent calyx.

There are a number of named varieties available and the Japanese dwarf pomegranate, P granatum var nana, is very hardy grown in pots. It bears scarlet flowers, which are succeeded by two-inch fruit.

The pomegranate can be grown in calcareous, alkaline soil and on deep, acid loam and a wide range of soils in between these extremes. It is both self-pollinated and cross-pollinated by insects.

Propagation

Although pomegranate seeds germinate easily, they fail to come true to type. The usual method of propagation from selected cultivars is by means of 10-20 inch-long hardwood cuttings.

Unfortunately, grafting is not an option, for it is not a successful method of reproduction. However, plants can be propagated by means of air-layering.

Pomegranate plants are available at some of Bahrain’s garden centres. Plant one in either a large pot or in the garden and enjoy the virtues of the ripe fruit from August to October.

Punicum granatum features in my book Tropical Trees and Shrubs of Bahrain.
Elizabeth Shaheen - GDN - 24 Dec, ‘06