The pomegranate is one of the oldest fruits in the world and native to Persia. The pomegranate was commonly thought to be a native fruit of China but was later found to have been brought to China in 100 B.C. by the Han dynasty. Originally thought to be native to China, pomegranates were actually brought to China about 100 B.C. by Jang Qian of the Han dynasty.

The pomegranate came to Italy through Carthage and the Romans later called it Punic apple orPunicum malum, in Latin. The current botanical name is Punicum granatum which references Carthage with the word Punicum and the seeds in the fruit referenced with granatum.

The Romans saw the pomegranate as a fruit for royalty and also used the tanned and treated rinds as a form of leather. Famous literary luminaries like Shakespeare and Homer have described the amazing characteristics of the pomegranate.

In 800 A.D. the Moors brought the fruit to Spain. The city of Granada was named after the pomegranate, and this tasty fruit became their national emblem. Britian saw the first pomegranate planted by King Henry VIII of all people.

It is thought that the garnet gemstone may have been named after the deep red color of the pomegranate pips.

America was introduced to the pomegranate by the Spanish conquistadors but to this day the fruit hasn’t reached the same level of popularity as it has in the Mid-East, Far east, and Europe.

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