Pomegranate is a tart, crunchy fruit that is also slightly sweet, and has a very strong nutritional profile. It is one of the oldest fruits in the world, with a rich history. It is said to have originated in Persia, and people quickly began growing it across the Mediterranean and eventually China.
China is still one of the biggest cultivators of the pomegranate. It is now eaten across the world and known for its health benefits and strong flavor. While the pomegranate is one of a kind, there are some other fruits that replicate certain properties of it.
To find the best pomegranate substitute, you’ll want another fruit that has a similar taste and/or texture to pomegranate. It’s pretty difficult to find an exact pomegranate replica, but many other fruits come close.
Some of the best fruits that are similar to pomegranate include: cranberries, guavas, raspberries, red currants, blackberries, sour cherries, and passion fruits.
Pomegranate is botanically considered a berry, as it comes from a single flower with several seeds. It is in the same family as some types of plums and apples. Pomegranate is also considered to be a superfood.
What are the Benefits of Consuming Pomegranate?
The list of benefits that can come from eating pomegranate is very extensive. For one, pomegranates are packed with antioxidants and flavonoids, which are best known for preventing damage to cells.
Because of this, pomegranates may be good for preventing some cancers. Specifically, prostate, lung, breast, and colon cancers. Pomegranate is also said to help ease or prevent symptoms of Alzheimer’s, arthritis, and heart disease, to name a few. It is also beneficial to urinary health.
Pomegranates are also a great source of many vitamins and minerals. Some of these include vitamins C and K, as well as potassium. One pomegranate contains over half of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C.
What Can I Substitute for Pomegranate?
1. Cranberries
The taste of cranberries is very similar to that of pomegranates. They have the sweet yet sour aspect that pomegranates are known for. Their texture is not so similar though, as cranberries are somewhat more plush than pomegranates are.
Like pomegranates, cranberries can help with urinary tract health and may also be able to prevent some cancers. In addition, cranberries help lower blood pressure and boost the immune system.
2. Guavas
Guavas have crunchy seeds that are edible, in addition to the guava fruit being edible. There are multiple species of guava available, and all of them have edible seeds. Their taste is pungent and refreshing, and has the same tart but sweet element that pomegranates do.
If you’re looking for a fruit that you can use interchangeably with pomegranates, guava is the pomegranate substitute for you. They can be spread over a sorbet or yogurt, or made into a juice or used as part of a smoothie.
3. Raspberries
Raspberries are similar to pomegranates in both texture and taste. Their seeds give them a similar texture, and their flavor is sweet. The main difference between pomegranates and raspberries is that raspberries are not as juicy.
The red currant fruit is not related to pomegranate at all. Their shape or size is not at all similar either. But, the taste of red currants is very similar to that of pomegranates. They are bright red and their shape is more resemblant to the shape of grapes.
The flavor of red currants is tart and sweet, like the taste of pomegranate. Red currants have a similar crunchiness to pomegranate, but they are slightly juicier. You can even put red currants through a juicer and drink them instead of chewing them.
5. Blackberries
When sweetened, the flavor of blackberries can become strikingly similar to that of pomegranates. They also have very similar textures. Unsweetened, the taste of blackberries is more bitter, but this can be a benefit in some recipes.
If you like your fruits as sweet as can be, you can add sugar to your blackberries. Another way to get blackberries more sweet is by not consuming them right when you buy them. Instead, let them ripen on their own to the point where they are slightly soft.
6. Sour Cherries
As their name suggests, sour cherries are not very much like other cherries. Their taste is more rich and tart. They can also be sold under the name of tart cherries, and are much more acidic than regular cherries.
7. Passion Fruits
If you’ve tried passion fruits before, you know that they are full of seeds, similar to pomegranates. They have the same aspect of edible flesh surrounding their seeds, but the flesh of passion fruits is more sweet, rather than sour like the flesh of pomegranates.
One thing to note about passion fruits is that they are known to have a sedative effect. Meaning, don’t be surprised if you start to feel drowsy after consuming passion fruits. Like pomegranates, passion fruits are good for heart health, immune system strength, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the white stuff in pomegranates poisonous?
The white part of pomegranate is completely safe to consume, but many people find it to be too bitter and throw it out anyway. The skin of pomegranates is also edible, but not necessarily tasty. No part of the pomegranate is poisonous.
How many types of pomegranates are there?
There are many different types of pomegranate cultivars. The number isn’t exact, but it reaches over 500. Every pomegranate tree looks similar to each other, and are hard to tell apart from one another to an untrained eye.
How much pomegranate should I eat a day?
The USDA recommends that it is best to consume between 1 ½ to 2 cups of fruit every day. If you want all of your daily fruit intake to come from pomegranate, you can feel free to do so. Pomegranate is good for blood pressure, inflammation, heart health, and more.
Conclusion
The pomegranate is an extremely healthy fruit, so much so that it is considered a superfood. It has a signature sweet tartness to it, and crunchy but juicy texture. If you’re looking for fruits that are similar to pomegranate, many have some properties that you love the pomegranate for.
