Pomegranate, with the scientific name of Punica granatum L.. It is a type of deciduous trees or shrubs. It has simple leaves, usually in pair or clustered, without stipules. Flowers usually at the end or near the end of the branches; it can be solitary or in clustered, nearly bell shaped. Fruit matures in the months of September and October. Pomegranate is a kind of berry. There are hundreds of seeds within the thick fruit peel. Seeds are cover by translucent and juicy skin. This is the juice we will need for.
This juice is sweet, with a bit sour taste. Pomegranate fruit juice is rich in nutrients, especially in its Vitamin C content. It is said to have 1 to 2 times higher than apple and pear.
The tree was 1st found in the area of Balkans to Iran and its adjacent regions. The history of pomegranate cultivation in China can be traced back to the Han Dynasty. Zhang Qian introduced this fruit from the western regions. It is now cultivated all over in China. The big commercial plantation areas are in Anhui, Jiangsu and Henan. Among them, Anhui County of Huaiyuan is the hometown of pomegranate in China. “Huaiyuan pomegranate” is one of the national icon.
In Chinese tradition, pomegranate is regarded as a symbol of fertility.
Pomegranate is deciduous shrub or small tree. It is a type of tropical evergreen tree. Tree can be high up until 5 to even 7 meters but generally is 3 to 4 meters. There are also some sub-species that are only 1 meter or even slightly lower.
There are many branches at the top of the tree, and the twigs are square shape. Twigs are pliable, not easily broken. New branches may have thorns. The length of thorns is related to variety and growth. Young and stronger trees are thornier compare to older trees. Flower bud color varies with season, it can be in purple, green and orange colors.
Fruit pomegranate florescence between month of May and June, with fire like red. The fruit bearing period is between months of September and October yearly.
The peel can be used as medicine, and the fruit can be eaten or pressed. It has high nutritional value especially for the health of the elderly.
It is found that pomegranate contains a large number of organic acids, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and calcium, phosphorus, potassium and other minerals. Chinese medicine believes that pomegranate has clearing heat, detoxification, calming liver, nourishing blood, activating blood and antidiarrheal effect, suitable for icteric hepatitis, asthma and chronic diarrhea patients and women with long menstrual period.
Pomegranate fruit looks like a small ruby, with high nutritional value, rich in fruit sugar, high protein, easy absorption of fat, easy to replenish energy. Fruit contains vitamin C and B vitamins, organic acids, carbohydrates, proteins, fats and calcium, phosphorus, potassium and other minerals. Also rich in a variety of acids, including organic acids, folic acid that are very beneficial to the human body. Pomegranate is not only rich in fruit nutrients, but also leaves and fruit kernels are of great value.