One of the oldest cultivated fruits, pomegranates first grew in the Fertile Crescent of Mesopotamia and ancient Persia. The Romans gave it its name - "pomegranate" literally means "seed apple" in Latin - and planted the hardy seedlings throughout their empire. Spain loved pomegranates so much that, according to some historians, they gave their name to the city of Granada. The fruit also spread eastward, to India, where its juice was considered a health elixir capable of curing numerous ailments. As modern researchers discover more about the importance of micronutrients and antioxidants for good health, it's starting to seem like the Ayurvedic specialists of centuries ago were right about pomegranates. The round, red fruit has a symbolic history as rich and varied as its geographic history. Its profusion of seeds linked the pomegranate fruit to fertility, while the long-lived trees were associated with rebirth and renewal. Garnets, the rich red gemstone prized throughout the ancient world, got their name from their resemblance to pomegranate seeds. Pomegranates have been the subject of poems and allegorical stories from Greek mythology to the Book of Exodus. Paintings and frescoes depict legendary heroes, gods and goddesses dining on pomegranates. Nutritional Information As poetic as they may be, pomegranates also have practical value. Nutritionally, pomegranates compare favorably with many more familiar fruits and vegetables. They contain no fat and only 80 calories per 100-gram serving, but offer 5 grams of fiber and 15 percent of your daily recommended intake of vitamin C. Pomegranate juice is almost as popular as whole fruits. Because it is more concentrated, pomegranate juice is slightly... middle of paper... ll, so buying them in season ensures a better product. Most fruits consist of sweet pulp wrapped around inedible seeds. Pomegranates reverse that familiar formula; they are filled with translucent juicy seeds surrounded by a fibrous white pith. Separate the delicious seeds from the pith with a firm tap of the back of a spoon against the back of a pomegranate half. The seeds should drop from the pith and fall into the bowl with a few strokes of the spoon. Pomegranate seeds look a lot like the garnets they give their name to. Their vivid color and translucency make them a stunning topping for ice cream and desserts. Try them in salads too, where their bursts of tangy juice add a new dimension of flavor and texture. Use pomegranate juice wherever other fruit juices go: in glazes and sauces, with mixed fruit drinks, and as a frozen treat.