Description and method of preparation of grenadine, calorie content and composition. The benefits and harms of pomegranate syrup for the body. Using grenadine in food and beverage preparation.
Grenadine is a thick syrup originally made with only freshly squeezed pomegranate juice and sugar syrup. The taste is sweet to sugary, the color is from bright red, ruby to burgundy, the consistency is viscous. Produced in 2 forms - non-alcoholic and low strength in the form of 3-4% liqueur. Consumers are offered another product under the same name, consisting of concentrates. Pomegranate syrup is often composed of currant juice, cherry juice, or artificial acidifiers and flavors.
How is grenadine pomegranate syrup made?
There are several recipes for making pomegranate syrup: with and without seeds, with the addition of apple or black currant juice, aromatic fragrances and stabilizers. Knowing how to make grenadine yourself, you can always have a tasty and healthy product on hand.
Grenadine Pomegranate Syrup Recipes:
- Without additives … Pomegranate juice, 0.5 l, is boiled with the same amount of sugar, over low heat, until the volume is halved. The cooking time is at least 40 minutes. Do not be upset if the color of the concentrate is not as rich as that of the store. After all, there are no artificial colors in it.
- With alcohol … Fortified liqueur grenadine is prepared as a non-alcoholic syrup by adding vodka or cognac after cooling. Such a product is stored longer - up to 1 month. The proportions of syrup and alcohol: 0.5 liters of juice, no more than 1-3 tbsp. l. fortified drink.
- Based on pomegranate seeds … The non-alcoholic concentrate can be brewed from the grains of the subtropical fruit without squeezing out the juice. They are mixed with sugar (the proportions of ingredients are 1: 0, 8), boiled over low heat until the bones turn white. When the consistency is thick, rub the jam through a sieve. Boil for a few more minutes, dilute with a small amount of water, if necessary, bring to a boil again and pour into sterilized bottles.
- With lemon juice … If cocktails are prepared from the concentrate, then lemon juice is added to add spice. The grains of 4 large ripe pomegranates are pounded with 800 g of sugar and left in the refrigerator for 10-20 hours. Then squeeze the juice with a pusher and strain the liquid through cheesecloth. Cook until thick and 2 minutes before turning off add 2 tbsp. l. freshly squeezed lemon juice or 1 tbsp. l. eponymous acid.
- From store juice … Sugar is mixed with a thick pomegranate drink, in parts of the same volume, and boiled, removing the foam. As soon as the consistency becomes thick enough, remove from heat and cool.
- Grenadine with fruit juice and flavorings … Mix in equal quantities store-bought pomegranate and blackcurrant (or unclarified apple) juice (0.5 l in total), heat up, stir in sugar (0.5 kg), boil until the contents of the pan are reduced by half, cool under a lid to room temperature, and add 2-4 drops of citrus essence and pomegranate concentrate. Such a product does not differ much in taste and is much cheaper.
Read also how to make wine from pomegranate.
Composition and calorie content of grenadine
It is almost impossible to determine by taste how pomegranate syrup is made without the experience of a taster. Artificial flavors create the illusion that the product is completely natural and contains only subtropical fruit juice and sweetener. But the chemical composition of the product and the energy value are changing.
Sodium benzonate, corn concentrate fructose, artificial flavors, sodium citrate and citric acid are used to replicate the original taste of grenadine syrup. The ruby color is obtained using red food coloring. All ingredients are diluted with purified water.
The calorie content of grenadine without cheap supplements is 228 kcal per 100 g, of which:
- Proteins - 0 g;
- Fat - 0 g;
- Carbohydrates - 67 g;
- Water - 32.4 g;
- Ash - 0.69 g.
Vitamins are represented by riboflavin (0.01 mg), ascorbic and folic acid, retinol, folates.
Minerals per 100 g:
- Potassium, K - 28 mg;
- Calcium, Ca - 6 mg;
- Magnesium, Mg - 4 mg;
- Sodium, Na - 27 mg;
- Phosphorus, P - 4 mg;
- Iron, Fe - 0.05 mg;
- Copper, Cu - 26 μg;
- Selenium, Se - 0.6 μg;
- Zinc, Zn - 0.13 mg.
Mono- and disaccharides (sugars) - 46.55 g / 100 g.
Grenadine contains a high content of anthocyanins, organic acids - acetic, tartaric, citric, malic, propionic, formic and others. The pleasant pomegranate smell of the concentrate is provided by essential compounds.
The beneficial properties of grenadine
In the photo pomegranate syrup grenadine
The product, made from natural pomegranate juice, retains healing properties and helps to quickly recover from anemia, increases the production of hemoglobin and has a beneficial effect on the hematopoietic system.
Benefits of grenadine syrup
- Increases the tone of the vascular walls and prevents the development of atherosclerosis, ischemia and stroke.
- Dissolves cholesterol deposits already formed on the walls of blood vessels.
- Normalizes intracranial pressure and lowers blood pressure.
- Improves memory and accelerates nerve-impulse conduction.
- Increases reproductive functions.
- It has anti-inflammatory properties, stimulates the production of macrophages, helps not to get sick with viral diseases during the SARS season.
- Possesses antimicrobial action.
- It has mild diuretic and choleretic properties.
- Increases the acidity of gastric juice.
Due to the high content of anthocyanins, natural dyes, gnadine inhibits the synthesis of atypical cells and stops the formation of tumors. Pomegranate syrup has a rejuvenating effect - it inhibits age-related changes at the cellular level.
The concentrate can be used in the treatment of non-infectious diarrhea caused by eating disorders or neuropsychological conditions. Tea with grenadine reduces the frequency and severity of cough attacks in obstructive bronchitis, bronchial asthma and complications after acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections. So that it is not too sweet, 1 tbsp. l. the syrup is dissolved in 200 ml of boiled water and drunk during the day in equal portions. This drink softens a painful obsessive cough with tracheitis.
Interesting facts about grenadine
The Israelis believe that the invention of pomegranate syrup is their merit. But in this country, concentrate began to be produced only at the end of the 19th century.
And in Andalusia, a region of Spain, a product similar in description to grenadines was prepared in the 8th century, although in concentration it was closer to molasses. At that time, the province of Granada was inhabited by the Moors who emigrated from Africa, and they planted the fertile warm land with subtropical plants. In Persia, a similar syrup was also made - pomegranate molasses.
By the end of the 19th century, a modern recipe for grenadine appeared, both in Spain and France at the same time, and immediately won the love of consumers. The French still believe that the basis of the name is pomegranate in French, and the Spaniards - that the "name" liqueur received in honor of the region where the subtropical plant has taken root.
Interestingly, the British used syrup for medicinal purposes - to treat scurvy, anemia (anemia), tuberculosis and increased appetite, and the Americans immediately began to use it to prepare alcoholic beverages. The founder of the company Phillips (JR Phillips) in 1925 developed a whole line of medicinal liqueurs, and in it the pomegranate - Phillips of Bristol Grenadine - took its rightful place.
Rose's non-alcoholic syrup is currently the most popular brand. In the photo, the grenadine from this brand looks no less attractive than the more expensive products from Wilks & Wilson, Stirrings, Small Hand Foods, B. G. Reynolds. However, do not rely on advertising - there is no pomegranate juice in it, only artificial flavors and colors.
When choosing a quality concentrate, you should pay attention not only to the ingredients indicated on the label, but also to the dates indicating preparation and storage duration. The components of the composition are indicated on the product label, often several recipes for drinks are printed. And on the neck two dates must be indicated: when the product was produced and until what date it is valid.
A sealed bottle of pomegranate syrup can be stored for up to 2 years, after being opened - no longer than 2 months in a cool place.
Note! If the required markings are missing, do not rely on the natural composition of pomegranate syrup.
Watch the video about grenadine:
To buy 1 liter of grenadine made from natural pomegranate juice, you will have to spend at least 500-900 rubles. An artificial analogue is much cheaper - 200-300 rubles.
