The pomegranate with the scientific name Punica Granatum is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub in the family Lythraceae that grows between 5 and 10 m (16 and 33 ft) tall. In the Philippines, it is famous as Granada Fruit. It has been studied that Pomegranate juice is a powerful anti-inflammatory because of its high concentration of antioxidants. It can help reduce inflammation throughout the body and prevent oxidative stress and damage.
The first time that I saw a Granada Tree with abundant of fruits on it was when I traveled to Marinduque a few years ago. I remembered, heading to Ka Amon Cave – there was a household that captured my attention because of its colorful fruits. I was under the impression that it was a guava tree but our tour guide told us that it was Granada Fruit.
While staring at the trees and getting amazed, the owner of the house noticed us and went out of the house. She was smiling and offered us the ripe fruits. Depending on the variety and degree of ripeness, the seeds of the pomegranate can vary in taste from only a little sour (similar to ripe cherries) to fairly sharp (similar to uncooked cranberries). It can be enjoyed straight by simply eating the seeds, in any of a number of pomegranate-derived goods, or as a juice. But I ate it straight from the tree. It was sweet and a bit of sour yet it was tolerable.
Actually, it has been years past by since I visited the Province of Marinduque. And I just remember how the locals were truly welcoming to us. And surely, I’ll be back to this province sooner.