Armenian Pomegranate

Considered an indigenous fruit of the Armenian Highlands, Armenian pomegranate is the edible fruit of a small leafy tree or shrub. With a crown-like head and a spherical shape, the pomegranate has a thick, red shell that hides hundreds of small juicy, red, and glistening arils with tiny white seeds inside.

Defined by a tangy and mildly sweet flavor, the pomegranate arils, commonly called seeds, are grouped in piles that are surrounded by thin, white or yellow, bitter-flavored membranes. Armenian pomegranate has both grown wild and been cultivated on the Armenian soil since antiquity and is called nur in Armenian.

This fruit has long been - and still is - omnipresent in Armenian tradition, cuisine, culture, and art - it was featured in artistic deeds such as the renowned film-maker Sergei Paradjanov’s The Color of Pomegranates and Martiros Saryan’s painting Under a Pomegranate Tree.

Pomegranates are a staple fruit in Armenian households and are most commonly eaten fresh, while their juicy seeds are used as a traditional garnish for various meat and fish dishes, and are often added to traditional dishes, meats, and pies. Two excellent Armenian products featuring this remarkable fruit are pomegranate juice and pomegranate wine, which is characterized by a semi-sweet flavor.