The Garden of Eden Fruit

Have you ever wondered if the fruit that was eaten in the garden of Eden was really an apple? Did you know that some scholars think the fruit that Adam and Eve ate in the garden of Eden from the Tree Of Knowledge was not an apple at all but the pomegranate? This fruit has been around for hundreds of centuries and was eaten by the Romans as well as other civilizations.

This interesting fruit grows on small deciduous shrubs or bushes that originally came were native to the region from the Himalayan regions, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Northern India. Over time it has been cultivated in the Mediterranean area and other places. It eventually was brought to this country the end of the 18th century and even grows in Texas now.

The Roman's knew the fruit as as malum pinicum (meaning punic apple) or malum granatum (meaning grained apple) because of the seeds inside the fruit. The best fruit at that time came from Carthage and thus they called it punic

You can raise this fruit from seed but it often doesn't become true to form if done this way. Instead it is better to propagate the shrub with cuttings 12 to 20 inches long which root easily and will even make fruit in about three years.

This fruiting shrub has few pests and diseases, but deer love to browse on them if they are around. You need to pick the fruit before they are overly mature and when they sound metallic if you tap them and they also have a distinctive coloring.

The Pomegranate becomes more delicious and juicy the longer you store it in the refrigerator. Although difficult to eat on its own because of the seeds, the juice can be made into wine, used for jelly, sorbets and you can even buy the syrup of this fruit ,known as grenadine which is used in Whiskey drinks in bars. It is also good for your skin and full of antioxidants when you drink the juice.