Welcome to Gaia! ::

The pomegranate is a strange fruit with a long history, spanning the human world and that of the Gods. The fruit was first cultivated in the eastern lands of Persia, Iran, cultivated as far as India to southeast Asia to the northeastern parts of Africa. In 1769, the pomegranate was brought to California, where it currently has the highest growth rate along side Arizona.

Each pomegranate has 600 seeds; the many seeds and the red pulp around them are the edible parts of the fruit, although the pomegranate's sudden popularity has also made the juice from the seeds highly sought after. The fruit itself is covered in a thick red skin, generally growing to be larger than an orange but smaller than a grapefruit. The plant is very hearty, able to withstand drought and chilly weather to about -10°C, making dryer climates with little wetland ideal for growth.

The name "pomegranate" is derived from Latin, translating literally into pomum ("apple") and granatus ("seeded"). The name translation is common in many languages (German: Granatapfel, "seeded apple"). Some say the root of the name lies with the Egyptians and Semitic. In fact, the history of the pomegranate is said to originate from around 1000 BC!


Eating the pomegranate is no easy task, for it can be very messy; the juice is also known to stain, so don't get it on your clothes! The easiest way to procure the seeds is to cut the fruit open with a knife and place it in water, seperating the seeds from the white interior with ease (as the seeds will sink and the extra flesh will float). The seed is sweet, but can range from tangy to sour if the fruit isn't ripe. Not all people use the fruit for its sweet seeds; even today, you can find traditional recipes in the eastern cultures made with a spice from the pomegranate's seeds. For years, countless cultures have used the pomegranate for many purposes, such as making a juice, a wine, a seasoning, mixing a broth, as a marinade, a glaze, and a jam.


The Gods also made use of this humble little fruit. In Greek mythology (and arguably the most well known version), Persephone, the daughter of Demeter (Goddess of Harvest) and Zeus, was abducted into the Underworld by Hades himself to be his wife. Her mother mourned her loss, and thus all green things on earth ceased to grow, and died. Zeus couldn't allow the world to suffer so, and demanded that Hades return Persephone. While the stolen girl neither ate nor drank during her captivity (as any food or drink had in the underworld would bind a person there for eternity), Hades tricked her into eating four pomegranate seeds, thus ensuring that four months out of the year, she would take her throne in the underworld as Queen. This has earned the fruit the name, Food of the Dead.