What is grenadine made from? Grenadine syrup: price, recipe, where you can buy pomegranate syrup
Grenadine is a thick red syrup with a sweet and sour taste. Grenadine syrup is used by bartenders to prepare a variety of alcoholic cocktails. The drink consists of sugar syrup and pomegranate juice, but this is a classic version. In recent years, manufacturers have allowed the replacement of pomegranate with artificial ingredients and black currants. There is also an alcoholic version of Grenadine, which is a low-alcohol liqueur.
The most famous cocktail, the recipe of which includes Grenadine, is Tequila Sunrise. In the 90s of the last century, the beer “Grenabir” (“Christmas beer”) appeared, which also contains the mentioned syrup. The “Boyarsky” cocktail (syrup, drops of Tabasco and vodka) has become popular in St. Petersburg. Non-alcoholic cocktails with Grenadine are also known to consumers.
History of Grenadine syrup
Grenadine syrup first appeared in 1825. The inventor is considered to be James Phillips, who lived in Bristol for a long time. Phillips was already known as one of the most famous wine merchants in 1739. In 1804, Phillips changed his occupation, becoming a chief accountant at a large alcohol company. A few years later, Phillips made a dizzying career and became a partner with the owners of the company. Historians associate the appearance of Phillips of Bristol Grenadine liqueur with the name of this man.
In 1825, Phillips became the full owner of the firm now known as JR Phillips. Sons August and William continued their father's work. The Philips family clan began producing the Old English cordials line of liqueurs, a prominent example of which is Grenadine liqueur. In addition to Grenadine, the line includes the following types of alcoholic drinks:
- Pink cloves;
- Green Peppermint;
- White Peppermint;
- Shrub.
How to make syrup at home
The strength of Grenadine liqueur is 3.5%. The recipe involves the use of exclusively natural ingredients (spices and herbs, pomegranate juice, sugar, alcohol). The end result should be a ruby red drink. You can make syrup at home by diluting it with any type of strong alcohol. To do this, you need to take 500 grams of sugar and a liter of pomegranate juice (a prerequisite is that the product is natural). Cooking steps:
- Boil pomegranate juice. After waiting for it to boil, put the liquid on low heat, then set aside for 15-20 minutes.
- Make sure that the volume of juice has been reduced by half and the consistency has become thicker. Start adding sugar, stirring continuously with a spoon. The sand should completely dissolve (when this happens, remove the liquid from the heat).
- After cooling the future Grenadine, pour it into a container (glass) and leave it in a cool place.
- The finished product must be hidden in the refrigerator.
If you have blackcurrants, you can combine them with pomegranate. To make a liqueur from the syrup, just mix Grenadine with vodka (about 25 ml) and add a couple of drops of rose water to the drink. Pomegranate juice is best squeezed from fresh fruit, and there should be no seeds in the fruit. Store-bought juices are considered a bad solution because they contain preservatives in the recipe. Essence (or aromatic water) emphasizes the aroma, but it is extremely important not to overdo it.
How to use
Please note: it is not customary to serve syrup in its pure form. Grenadine is included in many alcohol-containing cocktails - this is its main purpose. Among these cocktails, the most famous are:
- "Sea breeze";
- "Tequila Sunrise";
- "La Tomat"
- "Dirty Shirley"
- "Marilyn Monroe";
- "Hurricane".
Non-alcoholic cocktails include Pink Lemonade, Roy Rogers, Bora Bora and Shirley Temple. Grenadine is also used as a meat sauce - thanks to it, the meat acquires a piquant and rich taste. You can add syrup to stewed vegetables, salad dressings and pilaf.
Famous syrup producers
Among syrup producers, the most popular is “Rose’s” - the reason lies in the budget of this brand. The downside is that Rose's drinks are made with colors, flavors, sweeteners and corn syrup. We recommend purchasing Grenadine, which is based on pomegranate. Here is a list of tested brands:
- Employees Only;
- Small Hand Foods;
- Sonoma Syrup;
- Stirrings;
- B.G. Reynolds.
If you are interested in pomegranate liqueurs, you should pay attention to “Volare Grenadin”, “Monin”, “Brandbar”. Topping products are considered one of the best in this segment.
Popular cocktails with Grenadine
Bartenders assure that Grenadine is a universal component that will serve as a decoration for any cocktail. We list the most popular options:
- « » . The highball is filled with crushed ice, after which you need to pour in orange juice (four parts), tequila (one and a half parts), and a couple of drops of Grenadine. The contents are decorated with an orange slice and a cocktail cherry.
- "Pousse Cafe". For this cocktail you will need a highball or shot glass - several layers of different drinks are poured into it sequentially. Portions should be equal. You will need Grenadine, mint and coffee liqueurs, rum, bourbon, triple sec.
- "Bourbon Daisy". Take a shaker and pour ice inside. Add Grenadine (half of the part), bourbon (two parts), lemon juice (three-quarters of the part). All this is mixed and placed in a special cocktail glass. In the finale, a third of the yellow chartreuse is added.
- "Sea breeze". The highball is traditionally filled with ice, and equal parts of gin, lemon juice and apricot brandy are placed there. Drizzle a little Grenadine on top. Dilute with soda to taste and garnish with a fresh mint leaf.
- "Shirley Temple". This cocktail is non-alcoholic. The ingredients are Grenadine syrup (one third), five parts ginger ale, part sugar syrup. The drink is served with a cherry and ice.
- « » . You will need Monin Grenadine and vodka (25 ml each), red Tabasco sauce, a cocktail spoon and a shot glass. First, the stack is filled with syrup in the specified volume, then a layer of vodka is placed (a spoonful at a time), and Tabasco is placed on top (4-5 drops are enough).
Grenadine is a popular ingredient in cocktails and comes in two forms: non-alcoholic (syrup) and alcoholic (liqueur, about 3-4% strength). It has a tart-sweet taste and rich ruby color. The syrup is made from pomegranate fruits, in fact, this is indicated by the name (from the French grenade - “pomegranate”). In addition, the list of required ingredients also includes sugar and water.
Grenadine Pomegranate Syrup is not a trademark or a name controlled by origin. The basic elements remain the same, but everything else, including taste, composition, density and other characteristics, may vary depending on the manufacturer. Some companies add blackcurrant juice to the drink, others reduce the amount of natural ingredients, replacing them with fragrances and flavors. In most cases, this is aimed at reducing production costs and making syrup accessible to the mass consumer.
![](https://i1.wp.com/alcofan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/granatovyj-sirop-grenadin.jpg)
Story
It is not known for certain when pomegranate syrup took its rightful place on kitchen shelves, but recipes with this ingredient can be found in cookbooks as early as the end of the 19th century.
Preparing grenadine
Unlike many other cocktail ingredients, grenadine is easy to make at home.
Ingredients:
- pomegranate juice (can be mixed with blackcurrant) – 0.5 liters;
- sugar – 0.5 kg;
- vodka (alcohol) – 5-25 ml (optional);
- orange or rose water, citrus essence – 2-4 drops (optional).
It is advisable to use pure pomegranate juice, squeezed from ripe fruits (necessarily without seeds). Store-bought juices contain too many preservatives and are often not actually pomegranate juices. You can add blackcurrant juice to the composition (replace some of the pomegranate juice), but this will deteriorate the quality of the grenadine. Aromatic water or essence enriches the aroma, but it is important not to overdo it, so as not to completely drown out the smell. The alcohol content increases shelf life, but the classic cocktail syrup is non-alcoholic.
Recipe
1. Mix pomegranate juice with sugar in a 1:1 ratio.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heating power to a minimum. Boil for 15-40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
The exact cooking time depends on the desired density of the syrup - the more liquid evaporates, the thicker and darker the homemade grenadine will be.
3. Remove the pan from the heat, cover with a lid, and cool to room temperature.
4. If desired, add alcohol (vodka) and/or flavorings: essence, orange or rose water. Mix.
5. Pour into bottles for storage and seal tightly. Shake before use.
Attention! At room temperature, homemade grenadine is stored for only about three weeks, since, unlike store-bought analogues, it does not contain preservatives. If the composition contains alcohol, the shelf life increases slightly.
Famous brands
The most popular and affordable brand is Rose's, but it is made from corn syrup with colors, sweeteners and flavors. Brands such as Small Hand Foods, Stirrings, Employees Only, Sonoma Syrup, B.G. produce grenadine from real pomegranates. Reynolds', Wilks&Wilson Genevieve's, etc.
Cocktails with grenadine
Experts say: “If you can only buy one syrup for a bar, let it be grenadine. No other drink adds as much flavor and color to cocktails as this ingredient.”
- Bourbon Daisy. Fill a shaker with ice, pour in two parts bourbon, ½ part grenadine, ¾ part lemon juice. Mix everything and pour into a cocktail glass. Top with a layer of yellow chartreuse (1/3 part).
- Pousse Cafe. In a glass (shot or highball), pour equal portions of grenadine, coffee liqueur, mint liqueur, triple sec, bourbon, and rum in layers.
- Tequila Sunrise. Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour 4 parts orange juice, one and a half parts tequila, add a few drops of grenadine. Garnish the glass with a cocktail cherry and a slice of orange.
- Sea Breeze. Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour equal parts of apricot brandy, lemon juice, and gin. Add a few drops of grenadine and dilute with sparkling water to taste. Serve with a fresh mint leaf.
- Shirley Temple. A non-alcoholic cocktail made from ginger ale (5 parts), grenadine (1/3 part) and sugar syrup (1 part). Serve with ice and a cocktail cherry.
![](https://i0.wp.com/alcofan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/bourbon-daisy.jpg)
Grenadine is a tart-sweet, ruby syrup made from pomegranate juice. The thick, viscous consistency explains the high calorie content of the concentrate - 268 kilocalories per 100 grams.
Historical sketch
The French and Spanish clashed in the struggle for supremacy in the creation of syrup.
The French claim that the name of the sweet pomegranate concentrate comes from the French word for pomegranate - “grenade” and that it was created specifically for cocktails in 1891.
The Spanish version is no less plausible: in the 8th century, in the Andalusia region, the province of Granada was settled by Moroccan Moors. They brought pomegranate trees with them and prepared not only pomegranate sauces, but also syrups from the fruits.
It seems that similar syrups were prepared not only in these two countries, but everywhere where pomegranate grew. For example, in Persia it is known as pomegranate molasses.
At the end of the 19th century, the British actively used syrup to solve liver problems and increase appetite in children. They offered the person in need of help to swallow a spoonful of red sweet liquid before eating.
In America at the beginning of the 20th century, ruby concentrate took pride of place on bartenders' shelves.
Interesting fact. In addition to syrup, there is also Grenadine liqueur, containing up to 3.5% alcohol. In 1825, the owner of the JR Phillips company, James Phillips, presented the world with an interesting line of medicinal liqueurs, of which Phillips of Bristol Grenadine turned out to be one of the most original.
Modern composition of grenadine
In its original form, the syrup recipe included only pomegranate juice and sugar syrup. Now the composition, and, consequently, the taste and properties of Grenadine vary depending on the manufacturer’s plans.
In addition to the main above-mentioned components, the composition of the syrup may include juices of red and black berries - cherries, black currants, strawberries, raspberries, etc.
There are technologies that involve the introduction of artificial additives, fragrances, and flavors into the concentrate. This reduces its cost, increases its shelf life, but somewhat worsens its properties.
Some companies, such as Mott's (which makes Rose's syrup), omit the juice from the syrup altogether, offering customers a mixture of fructose corn concentrate, water, artificial flavors, red food coloring, citric acid, benzoate and sodium citrate.
The best brands can be purchased from the French company Monin, the Dutch Bols and the American Sonoma Syrup. Their products contain 10% fresh pomegranate.
Among liqueurs - syrups with added alcohol - the products of JR Phillips have proven themselves well.
Attention! If you are still wondering how to choose good Grenadine, then when purchasing, pay attention to two things - the composition of the syrup and its expiration date. Please note that once opened, the bottle can be stored (in the refrigerator) for no more than 2 months.
Benefits of Grenadine for the body
Syrup made from natural pomegranate juice preserves many of the micro-components of pomegranate in small quantities:
- vitamin complex: tocopherol (vitamin E), phylloquinones (vitamin K), ascorbic (vitamin C) and folic (vitamin B 9) acids;
- mineral complex: phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc, iron and phosphorus;
They determine the beneficial effect of pomegranate concentrate on the body. Grenadine syrup is capable of:
- reduce cholesterol levels;
- reduce the risk of cardiac problems;
- normalize blood pressure;
- increase reproductive abilities;
Anthocyanins in the syrup destroy harmful microorganisms, and polyphenols reduce the risk of cancer and slow down the aging process.
The syrup should not be used only in cases of diabetes mellitus and allergies to its composition.
Homemade Grenadine Recipe
How to prepare pomegranate liqueur was discussed in another article, today we will prepare pomegranate syrup, and according to all the rules.
Cooking features
Homemade pomegranate syrup is simply ideal due to its naturalness. But there are a few points that are better to know before you start preparing it.
- The shelf life of the syrup (in the refrigerator) is not long - only 2-3 weeks, but it can be slightly extended:
- adding 1 tsp during cooking (5 minutes before readiness). lemon juice;
- adding strong alcohol to the composition;
- sterilizing and drying the bottles/jars before pouring the syrup into them.
- Strong alcohol is added only to chilled pomegranate syrup. In this case, virtually any 40-proof alcohol is suitable - cognac, brandy, gin, rum, etc. It should be borne in mind that the taste of the syrup from these drinks will change slightly. The classic combination is: alcohol 40-45% or vodka and grenadine. In any case, take 5-25 ml of strong alcohol for half a liter of juice (indicated in the recipe).
- The amount of sugar in the recipe varies. How much you take will depend on the sweetness of the syrup, its thickness and shelf life. Juice and sugar in a 1:1 ratio allows you to get a more viscous and sweet syrup that can be stored for up to a month.
- Part of the pomegranate juice (up to 50%) can be replaced with any other red juice - cherry, blackcurrant, strawberry, raspberry, etc. This will not spoil the concentrate, it will just diversify its taste a little. We use only freshly squeezed juices in the recipe.
- If desired, you can add additives to the composition: vanillin, 2-3 drops of essence (orange, rose, etc.).
List of components and preparation technology
Prepare:
- pomegranate juice – 0.5 l;
- granulated sugar (white) – 250-500 gr.
Let's get started:
- Pour the juice into the sugar, bring to a boil and reduce to half the volume. This usually happens by simmering over low heat for 15-40 minutes (the cooking time depends on how thick the syrup will be). Stir occasionally during the process.
- Add the desired additives and strong alcohol to the cooled concentrate. However, even without this step it is considered ready.
- Pour into a sterile glass bottle and seal. Keep in the refrigerator.
Attention! Homemade Grenadine syrup will differ in color from its store-bought counterpart. This is normal: the lower brightness is due to the naturalness of the components and the absence of dyes.
How to use Grenadine syrup correctly
The product is not consumed on its own, but it is an excellent sweetener, coloring and flavoring agent. Therefore it is used as:
- topping for desserts and ice cream;
- gravy for pancakes and casseroles;
- impregnation for biscuits;
- base of meat sauces;
- component of salad dressings;
- cocktail component.
Usually in recipes the syrup is expressed in milliliters, but sometimes grams are indicated. It’s easy to understand how much you need to take: in 1 glass (250 ml) – 350 grams of syrup; in 1 tbsp. – 20 gr.; in 1 tsp. – 7 gr.
Cocktails with Grenadine
Attention! In recipes you can use homemade syrup, so instead of the word “grenadine” in the composition, the phrase “pomegranate syrup” or “pomegranate liqueur” will be used. You should know that these are one and the same!
Cocktails with Grenadine are:
- alcoholic: Hurricane, and others, or Bacardi rum;
- non-alcoholic: Bora Bora (250 ml Sprite + 25 ml pomegranate syrup + 0.5 tsp lime juice), Roy Rogers (250 ml cola + 10 ml pomegranate syrup), etc.
In addition, pomegranate syrup can be frozen in ice trays and served with whiskey, gin, or champagne.
"Sea breeze"
Mix in an ice-filled highball glass:
- brandy (apricot) - 50 ml;
- lemon juice – 50 ml;
- gin – 50 ml.
Add a couple of drops of pomegranate liqueur and top up with soda.
"Picnic"
Mix in a blender:
- whiskey () – 25 ml;
- pineapple juice – 50 ml;
- pomegranate syrup – 10 ml;
- peach – ½ peeled fruit;
- mango – ¼ peeled fruit.
"Beach Day"
- light rum – 30 ml;
- – 15 ml;
- fresh orange – 60 ml;
- pomegranate liqueur - 15 ml.
"Mimosa"
Mix flute in a glass:
- champagne – 1 bottle (0.75 l.)
- pineapple juice – 250 ml;
- orange juice – 450 ml;
- pomegranate liqueur – 60 ml.
"Strawberry Bounty"
Mix in a shaker filled with ice:
- orange liqueur () – 10 ml;
- vodka – 20 ml;
- cream - 20 ml;
- coconut syrup – 10 ml;
- vanilla syrup – 10 ml;
- pomegranate syrup - 5 ml;
- strawberries - puree of 4 berries.
Strain before serving.
"Luigi"
Mix in a shaker filled with ice:
- orange liqueur () – 15 ml;
- white vermouth – 35 ml;
- gin – 35 ml;
- tangerine juice – 30 ml;
- pomegranate liqueur – 10 ml.
"Pink Lady"
Mix in a shaker filled with ice:
- gin – 45 ml;
- egg white – 1 pc.;
- pomegranate liqueur – 3-4 drops.
"Buz-fiz"
Mix in a shaker filled with ice:
- - 10 ml;
- raspberry syrup – 10 ml;
- pomegranate syrup - 5 ml;
- strawberries - puree of 2 berries.
Strain into a glass and add 120 ml of sparkling wine (champagne).
"Marilyn Monroe"
Mix in a glass:
- champagne – 100 ml;
- Calvados – 25 ml;
- pomegranate liqueur – 6 ml.
"Garnet bracelet"
Mix in a shaker filled with ice:
- lemon juice – 10 ml;
- orange juice – 20 ml;
- pomegranate juice – 40 ml;
- pomegranate liqueur – 2-3 drops.
Shirley Temple (non-alcoholic)
Mix in an ice-filled glass:
- – 150 ml;
- pomegranate syrup – 10 ml;
- sugar syrup – 30 ml.
Add a couple of drops of pomegranate syrup and top up with soda.
Grenadine is a sweet, thick syrup that is red in color and is widely used in various cocktails as a sweetener and to add a bright color to drinks. Grenadine syrup was originally made from sugar syrup and pomegranate juice. Today, other juices are used in its preparation, for example, from black currant, as well as many artificial ingredients. You can also find this syrup with the addition of alcohol, in which case it is presented in the form of liqueur.
Let's take a closer look at how Grenadine syrup is prepared at home.
To do this you will need the following ingredients: and sugar in equal parts. Place all the ingredients in a saucepan, place it over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Then reduce the heat and cook for fifteen minutes. After this, the syrup is left to cool and then poured into a jar.
It should be noted that “Grenadine” is used for dressing (filling) various desserts, including ice cream, as well as for adding a red color to alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. It can be noted that in combination with pineapple or orange juice, the syrup gives a rather beautiful smooth transition from red to yellow.
If there are only pomegranate fruits in the house, you can prepare Grenadine syrup as follows.
The seeds of four pomegranates are placed in a food processor, a little water is added and mixed to form a puree-like mass, which is then filtered through a sieve so that the seeds do not fall into the future syrup. The resulting juice along with powdered sugar (at a ratio of 1:1) is placed in a saucepan and simmered over low heat for ten minutes, stirring constantly.
If we consider what cocktails can be prepared with Grenadine, we can note that the most common drink is prepared as follows: fill the glass with ice, add soda and pomegranate syrup to taste.
Let's look at a few more alcoholic cocktails that use pomegranate syrup.
Cocktail "Cuba"
Ingredients: twenty grams of dry vermouth, thirty grams of rum, ten grams each of any liqueur and pomegranate syrup, ice.
All of the listed components are placed in a glass (or other mixing container), ice is added, everything is mixed well and filtered into the drink. You can decorate the drink with a cherry.
Tequila Sunrise cocktail
Ingredients: sixty grams of tequila, one hundred twenty grams, thirty grams of Grenadine.
First pour tequila into a tall glass, then orange juice and Grenadine syrup. In this case, a few drops should fall to the bottom of the glass to create a sunrise effect. A cherry is placed on top.
It should be said that Grenadine is a fairly thick syrup. In cooking, it is used to prepare many dishes, as well as punches, wines, soft drinks, including lemonades.
Thus, considering what “Grenadine” is, we can emphasize the following. This syrup contains a large amount of ascorbic acid (14%), fruit acids, tannin and various sugars, therefore, in addition to its great taste, it also has many beneficial properties and qualities. By consuming Grenadine in various drinks that do not contain alcohol, you can replenish your body with vitamins, minerals and other components necessary for normal functioning.
It is recommended to use pomegranate syrup for those people who have diseases of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, anemia, various infectious diseases, as well as those who are exposed to radiation.