The word pomegranate is old French for “seeded apple,” a fitting name for this apple-sized fruit filled with jewel-like cluster of red seeds. There are many types of pomegranates cultivated around the world. One of the most popular in North America is called Wonderful. It is perhaps the best pomegranate for juicing. The fruit is available from fall to early winter. Pomegranates have a leathery, deep red to purplish rind. The fruit can be eaten out of hand by deeply scoring vertically and then breaking it apart. The clusters of juice sacs are then lifted our and eaten. . One fruit yields about 1/3 cup of juice. The juice can be used to make jellies, sorbets, or sauces, as well as to flavor cakes and baked apples.
