The pomegranate history

The pomegranate fruit – the botanical name is Punica granatum, which is translated as ‘ an apple with many fruits – seeds‘. The pomegranate is widely considered native in the region from Caucasus region to northern India with apparently wild plants in many forests of these areas. The pomegranate continued to be dispersed around the globe, reaching China, Roman Empire, including Spain Central America, Mexico, and South America. The first clear evidence that the pomegranate was in the area to become the United States was in the early 1700s when they were grown in Spanish Florida and English Georgia as well as California.

It is witnessed in many ancient Greek texts and it was clearly distinguished in sour and sweet pomegranate (something which also occurred in the Greek countryside until a few decades ago). In India, the fruits of the wild pomegranate were described with thicker rinds and extremely high acidity compared with cultivated types In Central Asia, the primary difference noted is the higher acidity in wild material.  

In Many cultures especially in Modern Greek and Caucasian tradition mainly in Azerbaijan, this fruit is a symbol of fertility and eternity. This is the reason why they tend to use it at weddings; a bride would throw a pomegranate and break it into pieces. Its scattered seeds ensured that the bride would bear children, during New Year’s Eve tables decorated with pomegranate fruit together with other fruits as a symbol of success and good health throughout the year.

It is one of the three “blessed fruits” of Buddhism, and the ancient Egyptians buried their dead with it. It was used as a decorative element in the temple of Solomon, on the mantles of the priests and it was also mentioned in the Old Testament.