The best varieties of pomegranates: description

In October and the very beginning of November, the pomegranate harvest takes place in many countries. In Azerbaijan, poems and songs are written about him. A monument was erected to him in Iran. The pomegranate is also depicted on the coats of arms of some lands of France and Spain. And his especially characteristic image can be found on the heraldic images of the Spanish region of Granada.

Pomegranate grows in Central Asia, the Middle East, the Caucasus, Africa and the Mediterranean. This royal fruit loves a humid, warm, sunny climate. Pomegranates are brought to us from Azerbaijan, Iran, Spain, Armenia and Israel.

The chef of the Tkemali restaurant, Kakhaber Kozaev, spoke in an interview with a MIR 24 correspondent about the benefits of pomegranate and how to choose it correctly.

Photo courtesy of the Tkemali restaurant

History of the name of the fruit

Pomegranate is a wonderful plant. The history of its name is interesting. This plant was known back in the times of the Ancient World. At that time it was believed that the best trees grew in Carthage. The Romans called the fruit malum punicum, which translated means “Punic apple.” The thing is that in the tenth century BC the Phoenicians moved from their native land to Africa, founding new settlements there, including the famous Carthage. And for the Romans, the Phoenicians themselves are Punics, hence the name – Punic apple.

But the pomegranate also had a second name - malum granatum, which means “grainy apple”. It was this that later became very widespread. But the botanical name Punica was given to the plant in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus.

What a fruit!

Remember the old joke, where the question: when do you get your first strawberry? - the buyer in the supermarket is answered: at 7 am? So, now in our stores it’s about the same. Food globalism has penetrated not only the industry of canned food, which can be transported around the world, it has even affected fresh fruits and berries. In winter, domestic fruits give way on the shelves to bright “natives” of warm regions. They are brought from South Africa, Morocco, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Ecuador.

In hot countries, winter is the season when all the most delicious things ripen: pineapples, mangoes and other exotic things. We also sometimes want to pamper ourselves, and what about the New Year? The same pineapple is a fairly frequent guest on Russian New Year's tables, not to mention the usual tangerines and bananas. In order for overseas fruits to reach us intact, they are picked while still completely green. They ripen on the way to the counter, and often already at our home. “Our Version” found out how to help purchased fruits achieve ideal ripeness.

Why do some “succeed” while others deteriorate?

Why does an inedible fruit taken from the tree become soft, juicy and sweet? Because he himself, without the participation of the mother plant, produces the “ripening hormone” - ethylene. Under the influence of this gas, tannins in the fruits break down, and starch turns into sugar. This discovery was made by Russian botanist Dmitry Nelyubov at the beginning of the last century. Since ethylene is released by the fruit itself, it does not necessarily need to hang on the branch. A picked fruit can “reach” even faster than its untouched counterpart, since with a lack of moisture or mechanical damage, ethylene synthesis increases. And if you put at least one ripe fruit among the unripe fruits, the ripening will go faster.

Most of nature's gifts can be purchased unripe without much risk - they ripen perfectly at home. These include apples, pears, bananas, kiwis, persimmons, avocados, quinces, peaches, apricots, plums, figs, papaya. The exception is the few fruits that must ripen on the tree. If removed ahead of schedule, they simply begin to rot over time. These include oranges, grapefruits and other citrus fruits, grapes, pomegranates, and cherries. It turns out that these species do not use ethylene to regulate ripening.

What is “banana gas” and is it dangerous for us?

The lion's share of industrial fruits today is harvested unripe, the most striking example being bananas. This appetizing yellow fruit is the permanent best-seller among all exotic fruits. Actually, no one considers it exotic for a long time. Banana is a very delicate product; it cannot be transported over long distances at temperatures above 14°C. The only way to get it to the buyer is to pick it green and transport it on ships equipped with refrigeration units. Many people remember that before, not only the grass, but also the bananas were greener. And all because in Soviet times they went on sale without additional processing. In order for green bananas to turn yellow quickly and evenly, they are carbonated - placed in sealed chambers and treated with a gas mixture (also called “banana gas”), which consists of ethylene and nitrogen. It is harmless to humans, but in terms of taste, such fruits are most often inferior to those ripened naturally. Since such technologies were not used in Soviet times, bananas were tastier.

Today, about 95% of fruits sold in Russia during the winter months are processed in “gas chambers” (by the way, citrus fruits are often sent there, but for a different purpose - this gives them a brighter color). However, finding a completely ready-to-eat fruit in the store can sometimes be difficult. But it doesn't matter. Simple kitchen tricks will help you quickly bring your purchase to the desired condition.

Ripening instructions

Rule 1.

Forget about the refrigerator - unripe fruits have no place there. Cold literally “freezes” the ripening process. Store them at room temperature (but not near the battery!) and away from direct sunlight.

Rule 2.

Fruits do not like to “suffocate” and dry out.
During ripening, the respiration process in their tissues is activated and they require large amounts of oxygen. You should not keep the fruits in a plastic bag or plastic container - they will begin to rot and rot. And long-term (more than five days) storage in air often leads not to ripening, but to drying out. Wrap the fruits in soft paper (ordinary newspaper will do) or put them in a paper bag - this way they breathe and do not dry out. Bananas usually ripen in one to two days, avocados and mangoes in two to three, kiwis in three to five. But it may take a little more time. If you want to speed up the process, put a ripe banana, apple or pear in the bag - they are recognized as record holders for the amount of ethylene released. Thanks to this proximity, your “harvest” will ripen faster. Do you always follow the correct storage of food/medicines and their product proximity?
Yes, of course, this is very important so as not to spend money on your health later.

43.91%

Not really, because there won’t be anything like going to the toilet.

24.72%

I look at it by appearance and if I use anything after heat treatment.

31.37%

Votes: 271

Rule 3.

Fruits must be dry. It’s better to let them ripen unwashed – you’ll wash them when they’re ripe. If you still can’t resist, dry the fruits thoroughly. Speaking of washing. Tropical fruits travel enormous distances on their way to the counter. To preserve their presentation, special waxes and preservatives are used - otherwise the fruits will be destroyed by mold. That is why before eating, all overseas gifts of nature must be washed with hot water and a brush, preferably with soap.

pomegranate tree

There are different varieties of pomegranates in the world. The plant's homeland is Persia (the territory of modern Iran). Pomegranates grow in the wild and in the Transcaucasus, Central Asia, India, Asia Minor and Afghanistan. In these countries, under favorable conditions, trees can reach five meters in height, but the plant can also be a bush. At the end of the eighteenth century, thanks to the Spanish conquistadors, the crop began to be grown on the American continent.

Pomegranates bloom very profusely from May to August. The plant's large red-orange flowers resemble a bell. They are so beautiful that many people grow the tree just for the sake of flowering. The fruits are spherical in shape and covered with red-brown or yellow-red skin. A pomegranate can weigh up to 600 grams. Inside it there are many seeds surrounded by juicy pulp. It is this that is edible and makes up only 50 percent of the mass of the entire fruit. Each pomegranate contains from 200 to 1400 seeds, located between white partitions. The fruits ripen from September to February in the northern hemisphere, and from March to May in the southern hemisphere. From one tree you can collect up to 60 kilograms of fruit.

The plant itself looks very decorative. In warm climates, ripe fruits crack, hanging directly on the branches. The peel bursts, but the grains are inside and do not crumble. It's just an amazing sight. In temperate climates, the leaves sometimes fall off before the harvest begins. Fruits located on bare branches give the plant an exotic appearance.

Mackerel in pomegranate marinade

The chef shared with MIR 24 readers his signature recipe for mackerel marinated in pomegranate sauce. It produces a delicate, very pleasant taste. “This sauce also goes well with boiled meat,” says Kakhaber Kozaev. Ingredients:

Mackerel fillet – 1 kg Fresh pomegranate – 100 g Tomato paste – 20 g Olive oil – 100 g Onion – 100 g Salt – 2 g Black pepper – 2 g Mix of oriental spices – 2 g
How to prepare:
Mix all the ingredients for the marinade and set aside prepared mackerel fillet there. Leave the fillet for at least an hour, then fry the fish in a heated frying pan for 2-3 minutes on each side.

It turns out very tasty if you fry such fish on the grill, with smoke. By the way, dried pomegranate peel can be added to firewood when frying fish or shish kebab on the grill, this gives an unusual aroma to the dish.

Bon appetit!

Types of pomegranates

Currently, only two types of culture are known. The common pomegranate grows wild in Asia and southern Europe. The second species grows on the island of Socotra, which is located in the Arabian Sea. Hence its name - Socotran pomegranate. But its taste is significantly lower than that of the common pomegranate, and therefore the plant is not cultivated. In addition, recently a dwarf form of the plant has appeared, which is grown as an ornamental crop on windowsills.

Different varieties of pomegranates, and there are more than 500 of them (cultivated varieties), have different taste qualities, differ in the shape and size of the fruit, the color of the pulp, the color of the juice, the softness or hardness of the seeds. The number of different varieties is increasing thanks to the constant work of breeders, whose main task is to create a plant that will be resistant to all diseases. In Turkmenistan there is the Kara-Kala nature reserve. The largest collection of pomegranates in the world is collected on its territory. There are more than 800 forms, types, and varieties of pomegranate.

History of selection

There are more than 500 cultivated varieties of pomegranate in the world.
Breeders continue to breed fruit trees with resistance to cold, disease, adverse climate conditions and improved taste. Fruits with light grains are called white pomegranates. Such varieties are wild. It is quite difficult to carry out such selection in laboratory conditions. The homeland of fruits with light grains is India, Iran, Egypt, Asia Minor .

Varieties of pomegranates

We have already mentioned that there are many varieties of pomegranates. All of them are grown for specific purposes. Some are for fresh consumption, others are for processing and juice production. One type of pomegranate makes an excellent and healthy drink, rich in vitamins and microelements. There are also varieties grown for technical processing. In our article we want to present the best varieties of pomegranates and their characteristics. The species grown can be roughly divided into the following groups to show only a small part of the varieties available:

Sweet Iranian varieties - Sharoli, Halva, Aswad, Akhmar.
Very sweet Indian - Dholka.
Sweet and sour varieties - Ulfa, Kyzym, Kok, Wellis.
Sweet - Lodzhuar, Kadan, Vedana, Nar Shirin.
American seedless variety (soft seeds) - Wonderful.
Israeli varieties - Ras el Bahl, Malissi, Red Loufani, Mangulati.
Indian - Alandi, Bedana.
Crimean and Transcaucasian varieties that ripen in October are Veles, Kaim nar, Krmyzy kabukh, Shah-par, Bala-mursal, Galyusha pink, Galyusha red.
Sweet and sour Central Asian varieties - Kzyl-anar, Achik-Dona, Kazake-anar.
Tart sour variety – Achikanor.
Early sweet varieties ripening in September - Ulfi, Lodzhuar, Ak-Dona.
Japanese dwarf variety bred for growing in pots (has numerous small fruits) - Punica granatum var.
Decorative varieties - Multiplex, Variegata, Chico.

How to choose ripe and sweet pomegranate: pay attention to the variety

The most common ripening season for fruit is from mid-autumn to early January (autumn harvests can last for a couple of months). But imported goods arrive on markets throughout the year, so it is better to navigate the country. To choose the right delicious pomegranate, look for these varieties on the shelves:

Iranian;
Indian Dholka;
Azerbaijani (especially popular are “Red Galyusha” and “Pink Galyusha”);
Crimean (especially the Ak Dona variety).

Experts advise to be careful with fruits from distant countries (Morocco, India, Turkey): they spend a lot of time on the road, so they are often picked unripe. In addition, they are more often subject to mechanical damage during travel or treatment with chemicals.

Life hack: after purchasing, wash the fruits in a soda solution, and then rinse with clean water to ensure that all chemicals are removed.

Gyulyusha

It is difficult to select the best varieties of pomegranate, since each person has his own taste, and different types are grown for completely different purposes. For example, sour fruits are cultivated for making sauces, and sweet ones for fresh consumption.

The best Azerbaijani varieties of pomegranate (photos are given in the article) are pink and red Gyulyusha. The pink variety has fruits weighing 220-250 grams, but sometimes there are much more round fruits. The juice yield from them reaches 54%. The grains of this variety are medium in size and have an excellent taste.

Red gulyusha has the shape of a bush (up to three meters in height). The fruits of the plant are quite large - 300-400 grams. They are covered with a pink thin crust. The fruit contains large grains, from which bright red juice with a sweet and sour taste is obtained. The fruit ripens in October and can be stored for two to three months. The variety is also grown in Georgia and Turkmenistan.

Basic rules for storing pomegranate

So, the product was purchased according to all the rules. What to do next? To store the fruit, you need a refrigerator or basement.

At what temperature should pomegranate be stored? The ideal range is from 1 to 10 degrees. At the same time, take into account the air humidity, it should be in the range of 65-80%. This is an indicator, since if the humidity in your basement is exceeded, the fruits will begin to rot and “will not live long”; if the humidity is low, the pomegranates will begin to dry out. If the conditions are met, pomegranate can be stored for up to 5 months. By purchasing pomegranates for the winter, you will provide your family with juicy and healthy berries. Below we will consider ways to store pomegranates: refrigerator, freezer, clay shell.

Regardless of the type of storage, sort out the fruits throughout the storage period. It is possible that you did not notice the cracks or inclusions on the pomegranate, and if you do not remove such fruit from the container, it will infect others.

In a refrigerator

Storing pomegranates in the refrigerator is a solution for city residents who do not have basements. Let's figure out how long you can store pomegranates in the refrigerator, and under what conditions:

Do not put pomegranates in plastic bags, this will lead to damage to the peel;
for longer storage time, wrap each fruit in paper, this will protect it from excess moisture in the refrigerator;
The bottom compartment of the refrigerator is best suited for storage, as this is usually the most optimal temperature.

Ak Don Crimean

Currently, there are varieties of pomegranate (photos are given in the article) that are cultivated in completely unusual regions. For example, Ak Don Crimean is grown in the steppe Crimea. The fruits are oval in shape and large in size. The variety is easily recognized by its thin creamy peel with reddish spots on one side. The fruit has a thick and short neck. The pink-red grains have a characteristic sweet taste with a barely noticeable sourness. This variety is grown even by amateur gardeners, since it is not too capricious. But to truly enjoy a ripe, delicious fruit, you need to choose the fruit that has been soaked in the southern sun and is fully ripe.

How to select and store pomegranate

Pomegranate is a very tasty and healthy fruit that is liked by both children and adults. As a rule, the lowest price is kept during the pomegranate season - the autumn-winter period; by summer it rises and becomes simply sky-high.

The fruit grows in southern latitudes, which is why it is so juicy and sweet. Ripening under the warm rays of the sun, it is enriched with beneficial vitamins and antioxidants. That is why it is so widely used in medicine, cooking and even in cosmetology.

You can buy pomegranate for future use, knowing the secrets of storage, and enjoy the delicacy all year round. The condition for storage is the correct choice.

Ahmar

It is believed that the most wonderful and delicious pomegranates are grown in Iran. One of the best sweet varieties is Akhmar. The plant grows up to four meters in height and blooms with bright red-orange flowers. The tree blooms from June until the very end of August. The fruits are covered with a thick green-pink skin and are of medium size. The fruit of this variety is characterized by pink light grains. The lighter the kernels, the sweeter they taste. According to experts, the sugar content in Akhmar pomegranate is so high that the variety occupies a leading position in this indicator.

Basic rules for storing pomegranate

So, the product was purchased according to all the rules. What to do next? To store the fruit, you need a refrigerator or basement.

In a refrigerator

Do not put pomegranates in plastic bags, this will lead to damage to the peel;
for longer storage time, wrap each fruit in paper, this will protect it from excess moisture in the refrigerator;
The bottom compartment of the refrigerator is best suited for storage, as this is usually the most optimal temperature.

By following the conditions, you can preserve the fruits in this way for up to 2 months.

In the freezer

You can freeze pomegranates in the freezer either as a whole or just the grains alone. Don’t worry about the quality of the product; after defrosting, the grains will retain their appearance, consistency and taste.

Nar-sharin

Nar-sharin is similar in taste and description to Akhmar. But this variety is characterized by a light skin color even in ripe fruits. On the outside the skin is beige with pink spots, and on the inside it is almost white. Pomegranate seeds are quite small, but very sweet. Their color gradually changes from light pink to very dark. An interesting fact is that Iranian pomegranates grow in the wild, and they began to be cultivated not so long ago and only in the central region. The local population uses fruits picked from wild plantings for food.

What does pomegranate go with?

Bright crystals attract attention and complement the image, but if chosen incorrectly, they will stand out from the overall ensemble. There are 4 unspoken rules that allow you to choose a garnet to match your clothes and other jewelry:

White, black and transparent inserts are considered universal in color. However, the stones influence each other and together - the owner. It is undesirable, for example, to wear garnet to impart wisdom along with onyx and malachite. These minerals do not combine.
You should not wear jewelry with a gem in gold and silver at the same time.
When selecting crystals for eye color, the type according to the seasons is taken into account.
Inserts in jewelry sets (sets) must match in shade. Color contrast with beads is allowed.

Garnet is not a very expensive piece of jewelry, but it looks elegant and sophisticated in both men's and women's jewelry. The variety of types allows you to choose “your” stone not only according to its magical properties, but also to suit your type of appearance or wardrobe.

Dholka

The world's sweetest pomegranate variety is Dholka. The plant grows in the wild in India. The fruits of the crop are very light, but with a slight pink tint. Oddly enough, the fruit is modest in size and weighs only 180-220 grams. Pomegranate seeds in different fruits may differ in color. Their color range varies from white to pale pink. In nature, the shrub grows to a height of no more than two meters.

In India, pomegranate is widely used in folk medicine, since the standard of living of the population is low. A remedy is prepared from the roots of the plant to relieve pain from bruises and fractures. And decoctions are used to treat dysentery.

Precious Garnet

The red fruit with a crown of sepals is truly a real jewel; it will help with tuberculosis, dysentery, and diabetes. Pomegranate seeds remove radiation, reduce blood pressure and nervous tension, strengthen blood vessels and improve blood circulation. The Egyptians placed pomegranates in the tombs of the pharaohs so that it would give new life to the rulers.

Fact

Arab healers used pomegranate to treat headaches and heal wounds. Medieval alchemists called pomegranate the “concentrator of the soul.”

Frost-resistant varieties

Many amateur gardeners are attracted by the stunning flowering of pomegranate trees, and therefore there is a desire to grow an exotic crop on their site. But are there frost-resistant pomegranate varieties that can withstand winter in the middle zone? This question is asked by a large number of gardeners. Yes, there really are such varieties.

Average frost resistance requires indispensable sheltering of plants for the winter, otherwise the pomegranate simply may not withstand the low temperature. But with proper care, nothing is impossible. The varieties we described earlier, Gyulyusha pink and red, and Ak Dona Crimean, belong specifically to frost-resistant species, and therefore their cultivation can be safely tried at a summer cottage.

Is it possible to eat unripe pomegranate?

Like any other unripe species, unripe pomegranate is not recommended for consumption. People with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract should be especially careful. Pomegranates are in a niche of strong allergens, so do not overindulge.

Knowing how to choose a pomegranate, you can maintain the body’s vitamin balance all year round. There are several rules, based on which you will choose the right fruit, and ripe pomegranate will always be in the refrigerator:

White variety of pomegranate

Very often people have questions about the existence of white garnet. Is this a myth or reality? In fact, pomegranate varieties with white grains exist and are successfully cultivated in southern countries and even in southern Italy and Spain. An example of such a miracle plant is Thuja tish, the name is translated as “camel tooth”. The fruits of this variety are characterized by large grains, but still they are not completely white, as many imagine. At first glance, it may seem that the pomegranate is simply not ripe. But in fact, the kernels are very sweet and incredibly tasty. Similar fruits can be purchased in Spain and Egypt. The so-called white pomegranate is endowed with absolutely the same beneficial properties as ordinary red varieties.

Botanical description

White pomegranate is distinguished by its peculiarities and remarkable characteristics, which distinguish it from other varieties of fruit crops.

Characteristics of pomegranate tree

White pomegranate is a low tree or shrub that grows up to 5 m in height. A deciduous plant has :

opposite foliage of elongated shape, glossy, collected in groups;
uneven trunk covered with small thorns;
thin, smooth branches of a yellow-brown hue;
large rich red-orange bell-shaped flowers.

The ornamental tree pleases with its mesmerizing flowering from June to August.

Properties and composition of fruits

The large fruits of white pomegranates attract the attention of gardeners, which are characterized by:

spherical shape;
average weight up to 600 g;
shiny and smooth skin, the color of which varies from light pink to deep red;
numerous grains hidden in a juicy sweet pulp of white or pink-white hue;
small bone;
balanced rich taste, thanks to the harmonious combination of sugar and acid.

White pomegranate differs from ordinary pomegranate in that it contains less acids and more sugars . It is believed that the lighter the kernels, the sweeter they taste.

100 g of product contains 52 kcal. Thanks to this indicator, tasty fruits are used in diets, fasting days, and supplement the diet of obese people.

The fruits contain a lot:

Vitamins (groups B, C, P, PP).
Minerals (manganese, iron, calcium, iodine, magnesium).
Organic acids (succinic, malic, etc.).
Essential amino acids.
Antioxidants.

Information ! The longer the fruit hangs on the tree, the sweeter it will be.

Customer reviews about the taste of pomegranate with white grains can be found here.

Frost resistance and drought resistance

Pomegranate is a heat-loving crop that can tolerate short-term frosts down to -15°C .
Therefore, in regions with cold winters it is impossible to grow a tree. As soon as the temperature drops below -18°C, the pomegranate freezes, and the entire above-ground part gradually dies off, right down to the root collar.

The fruit crop tolerates short-term drought well.

Indoor grenades

Fans of exotic home plants have probably heard that there are varieties of indoor pomegranate. Such small plants can be successfully grown at home, enjoy the beauty of flowering and even get small fruits with proper care. It is worth noting that similar varieties of pomegranate (described below) belong to dwarf forms, and therefore they can be considered house plants. One of the varieties that housewives grow is Punica Granatum Nana. The crop blooms and bears fruit throughout the year. When the plant reaches forty centimeters in height, you can already count on the first harvest. As a rule, from seven to ten fruits are tied on a bush, in the future there will be more. They are quite edible and reach five centimeters in diameter.

Is it possible to ripen pomegranate at home?

No matter how much you would like, pomegranate will not be able to ripen or ripen at home under any circumstances. The berries ripen exclusively on trees. If gardeners rushed to harvest for commercial purposes and picked unripe fruits, then they will end up on store shelves.

Therefore, read the rules for choosing the right pomegranate again. Consume only ripe fruits, especially in the winter and spring months, this will protect you from colds and normalize the functioning of the digestive system.

Baby

Baby is probably the smallest pomegranate that can be grown indoors. The plant has the shape of a bush. It does not grow more than fifty centimeters in height. This variety is decorative and blooms amazingly beautifully. During the dormant period (autumn), the bush partially loses its foliage.

The plant requires constant care, annual thinning and pruning. If it doesn’t like something, it reacts immediately (leaves fall), and therefore the pomegranate needs to create the most comfortable conditions possible. The plant blooms profusely and beautifully, producing single or group inflorescences. Each flower pleases for two or three days, after which it fades. Fruits are formed quite rarely. For one hundred flowers, for example, three or four fruits can be produced.

Basic rules for storing pomegranate

So, the product was purchased according to all the rules. What to do next? To store the fruit, you need a refrigerator or basement.

In a refrigerator

Do not put pomegranates in plastic bags, this will lead to damage to the peel;
for longer storage time, wrap each fruit in paper, this will protect it from excess moisture in the refrigerator;
The bottom compartment of the refrigerator is best suited for storage, as this is usually the most optimal temperature.

By following the conditions, you can preserve the fruits in this way for up to 2 months.

In the freezer

Fruits that are starting to have skin problems are suitable for storage in the freezer. Peel off the shell and put into bags. The shelf life of pomegranates in the freezer is up to 1 year.

Pomegranate value

It is difficult to list all the positive properties of pomegranate, but in general terms it is a great vitamin complex. Therefore, the use of pomegranate in its natural form or in the form of juice is often recommended by doctors for various diseases.

Pomegranate practically does not contribute to the occurrence of allergic reactions; even its presence in a child’s diet is not at all out of place. For an adult, pomegranate is simply a tasty fruit; A mature body needs vitamins, but not in the same way as a child’s body, which uses every vitamin it receives for its development. But since the child’s body is still unstable, you need to choose only the best for it. How to choose a ripe pomegranate for a child?

At first glance, it is impossible to assess the degree of ripeness of a pomegranate, but this is for a person who does not know its secrets. In fact, there are several methods, the use of which will allow you to determine how to choose the right pomegranate and not make a mistake with its ripeness.

Now, knowing how to choose a pomegranate for a child, you can safely include it in the diet. Pomegranate is especially relevant in winter, when traditional sources of vitamins in the form of our fruits are expensive and it is not a fact that they were grown without the use of various stimulants, which subsequently have a negative effect on human health. Children and pregnant women are advised to eat pomegranate to increase hemoglobin levels in the blood.