Have you ever made a cocktail with grenadine? Did you know that grenadine is actually pomegranate simple syrup? Read on to find out how to make grenadine because the store bought stuff is, well, not even grenadine.
What Is Grenadine?
That’s a simple question with a really interesting answer. Grenadine is that red syrupy, cloyingly sweet stuff in a Shirley Temple or a tequila sunrise that has somehow become synonymous with cherries. In fact, grenadine is simple syrup made from pomegranate juice and sugar and the real stuff is delicious.
How Did Grenadine Get Its Name?
OK. So, here’s where it gets interesting. Did you know the French word for pomegranate is grenade? Yes, just like THAT grenade. A fragmentation grenade is a small, throwable bomb that fits in the palm of your hand filled with tiny bits of shrapnel that resemble pomegranate seeds and it’s no accident that the name for it comes from the French “pomme-grenade” (or hand grenade).
So, then, what is grenadine? It’s just syrup made from the grenade.
Why Does Grenadine Taste Like Cherry?
Honestly, I really don’t have an answer for that, but somewhere along the line, a generation of people who thought hot dog jell-o molds were a good idea must have thought red liquid should taste like cherry. That’s my guess and if you have an actual factual reason you can cite, drop it in the comments.
The most popular brand of grenadine, the stuff in every liquor store and every supermarket in America, is Rose’s. Just, look at the ingredients in this iridescent crimson nightmare:
[blockquote_sty ver=”1″ border_size=”4px” color=”#0F0F0F”]high fructose corn syrup, water, citric acid, sodium citrate, sodium benzoate (preservative), red 40, natural and artificial flavors, blue 1.[/blockquote_sty]
Seriously, where the hell is the pomegranate? Where the fuck is the cherry?!
How To Make Grenadine
So, we’ve established that store bought grenadine is basically mystery flavored sugar water. Did you know it takes only a couple of minutes to make grenadine? You don’t even need to seed a pomegranate. Ingredient #1 pomegranate juice. You want to use pomegranate juice that’s not from concentrate and 100% juice. I like to use Pom Wonderful for this, and though their marketing claims are dubious, their product is truly 100% pomegranate juice.
Pour a cup of pomegranate juice into a small saucepan and bring it to a boil. Add 1 cup of sugar and boil until it’s dissolved (about 2 minutes). Remove the pot from heat. Let it cool to room temperature and transfer to a jar or a bottle and refrigerate until you’re ready to use it. That’s it. how to make grenadine in two steps.
How To Make Grenadine (AKA Pomegranate Simple Syrup)
You ever make a cocktail with grenadine? Did you know that grenadine is actually pomegranate simple syrup? Read on to find out how to make grenadine because the store bought stuff is, well, not even grenadine.
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Pomegranate Juice
- 1 Cup Sugar
Instructions
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In a small saucepan, bring Pomegranate juice to a boil. Add sugar and stir until fully dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate until ready to use.
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