Here's something you may not already know (and if you did, please excuse our ignorance): real grenadine is made from pomegranates. Not fake cherries! Who knew?! Ok, maybe you did. Now, the grenadine you're probably used to- the thick, bright red, syrupy stuff that Shirley Temples are made of, is full of ingredients that sound more like a chemistry experiment than a sweet addition to a cocktail. High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Red 40, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Blue 1- not a drop of real fruit in the mix. It's enough to make Shirley Temple weep.
Real grenadine, made from pomegranate juice, sugar and a splash of orange blossom water is a treat in drinks like a Sea Breeze or a Tequila Sunrise. It's simmered down until it's a thicker consistency and the color can't be beat. It may not last on your shelf for years and years without the preservatives, but odds are it won't last in your fridge for long because it's so tasty.
Pomegranates are in season now too, so if you want to make your own juice (which really isn't that hard), you'll be able to find a ton of them in our Produce Department.
To make grenadine you will need:
-2 cups pomegranate juice (from 3-4 large pomegranates) or use bottled juice
-2 cups sugar
-1 teaspoon orange blossom water (available in the Wellness Department)
If you are using fresh pomegranates, slice them in half and press the juice out using a citrus juicer. Strain juice, crushing any unbroken seeds with the back of a spoon. Alternately, you can seed the pomegranate, then blend the seeds in your blender and strain out the juice in fine sieve. In a medium saucepan heat the pomegranate juice over low heat for several minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in the sugar until the mixture is clear and the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and add the orange blossom water. Stir mixture, making sure all the sugar is dissolved and well incorporated. Allow the mixture to cool and transfer to bottles. The
grenadine
will keep for one month in the refrigerator.
Makes a lovely homemade holiday gift!