The Pomegranate – Rich in History

Pomegranates are believed to be one of the earliest cultivated fruits.

Their image decorated the pillars of King Solomon’s temple, which was destroyed by the Babylonians as long ago as 586BC. The Old Testament’s Song of Solomon even pays amorous tribute to the fruit: ‘Your lips are like a scarlet thread and your mouth is lovely. Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil.’

The pomegranate embellished the robes of Jewish kings and priests and was engraved on the silver shekel coin of Jerusalem around 140 years before the birth of Christ.

Native to present day Iran and the Himalayas, pomegranates have now been naturalised in countries as far apart as China, the Mediterranean and California. Pomegranate trees can grow as tall as five to eight metres and there are specimens in Europe more than 200 years old.