Perfection Fresh (Aust)
Cool change marks return of Royal Pom® pomegranates
Heralding the arrival of autumn is the appearance in-store of Australia's healthiest homegrown fruit - the Royal Pom® pomegranate.
This year's bumper crop, grown in optimum conditions exclusively for Perfection Fresh, is set to produce premium quality fruit from April until October, giving Australians access to home-grown pomegranates for six months of the year.
These large, round, ruby-red fruits with a distinctive crown on top are packed with hundreds of juicy edible seeds, called arils. It's these tiny treasures inside the hard outer rind which are winning a reputation for their health-giving antioxidant properties. Each aril is encased in a sac of sweet-sharp delicious juice, cocooned inside downy white membrane. The arils can be scooped out and eaten fresh, used to enhance the flavour of a wide spectrum of cuisines or to add a drop of spectacular colour when decorating food.
Extraordinary health benefits
Pomegranates have been widely revered for their health attributes since ancient times. The arils are packed with polyphenols some of nature's most effective antioxidants which help protect the body against damaging free radicals caused by pollution, alcohol, sunlight, tobacco smoke and pesticides.
Specifically, pomegranates contain anthocyanins. Anthocyanins help delay ageing and boost brain power. They also contain ellagic acid which keeps arteries flexible and chlorogenic acid for healthy liver and gall bladder function.
Where to find them
Royal Pom® pomegranates are widely available in leading supermarkets and independent retail outlets across Australia. Look for the crown-shaped label. The recommended retail price is approximately $2.99.
Selecting and storing
The heavier the fruit, the more it is laden with juicy delicious arils. Choose scarlet-coloured fruit heavy for its size. Some fruit may display scarring on the skin - which occurs naturally when they are growing. This hard outer rind is inedible and does not impact on the pristine arils inside. Pomegranates are best kept in the fridge. The arils can be removed and frozen for later.
Flavour review
Pomegranates are a perfect balance of sweet and tart. The tangy scarlet juice is ideal for flavouring and colouring and the arils lend a mild astringency to a range of dishes. Pomegranates work wonders with gamey meats, seafood, salads, desserts and fresh snacks.
Four ways to prepare a Royal Pom®
- Use a sharp knife to cut off the crown. Then cut into even sections and immerse in a bowl of cold water. Gently roll out the arils with your fingers or a spoon. Discard everything else and strain the water.
- Cut off the crown, removing with it some of the pith. Make light incisions on the skin in quarters, from stem to crown. Gently break the sections apart, following the incisions. Bend back the skin and scoop arils into a bowl, removing any pith.
- Cut in half. Taking the fruit cut side up, make four equally spaced cuts about two centimetres long and two centimetres deep. Hold the half, cut side down, over a deep bowl and prise the fruit open but not apart. Tap the top of the fruit with the back of a large spoon to dislodge arils.
- To juice, cut in half then used a hand press citrus juicer. Strain the juice through a cheesecloth-lined strainer or sieve
How to use pomegranates
- Add arils to a kiwifruit and avocado salsa seasoned with coriander, salt and pepper. Serve with steak.
- Fork arils through fluffy couscous seasoned with fresh mint and coriander.
- For granita, add juice to a quantity of sugar syrup, freeze on a tray, break up crystals with a fork and leave to freeze completely.
- Scatter arils over a white chocolate cheesecake along with white chocolate shavings.
- Take a cup of arils, a drizzle of pom juice, handful of pistachios and mix through natural Greek yoghurt for a delicious treat.
Growing region
Royal Pom® pomegranates are grown in Condobolin, New South Wales. They thrive in the area's hot, dry climate which is similar to those of their origin - countries of the Middle East and Mediterranean. The first commercial Australian-grown crop was produced in 2009.
Fast Royal Pom® facts
- Each Royal Pom® can weigh up to a kilogram!
- Pomegranates are non-climacteric fruits which do not ripen further once picked.
- Pomegranates grow on trees which produce gorgeous tubular pink-red blossoms in spring, up to seven months before harvest.
- Pomegranates contain hundreds of seeds and while sources disagree over just how many, Jewish people believe it is exactly 613.
- Pomegranate juice stains so be careful when eating or preparing!
