Pomegranate

Pomegranate is the edible fruit of the tree Punica granatum.

The plant is native to southwest Asia. It can be grown as a tree, shrub, or hedge. It requires a long, hot summer to produce fruit, but is also grown as an ornamental in climates where it cannot fruit. It is usually propagated through cuttings and grafts.

Both the flesh and the numerous seeds of the fruit are edible. Both are eaten raw, mostly on their own, but sometimes in salads. Concentrated pomegranate juice, called pomegranate molasses, is a prominent ingredient in Iranian cuisine, where it variously is used to glaze grilled meat, or mix with ground nuts in a sauce.