How to choose pomegranate juice?

Natural pomegranate juice is a storehouse of vitamins and amino acids.This is evidenced by the fact that it is the pomegranate juice that is recommended by doctors for the restoration of the body after serious diseases and in the postoperative periods. Pomegranate juice is used as a preventive measure for enriching the body with vitamins in the winter-spring period, and is also widely used in dietology and cosmetology. The number of active trace elements has such a high percentage in pomegranate juice that when used it is necessary to observe precautions and contraindications.

All of the above applies only to a quality product prepared according to the correct technology and not diluted with preservatives. Of course, the highest quality guarantee will be in the event that you yourself squeeze the juice from the fruit, selected and tested for defects personally. Juice can be made using a juicer or manually.

The problem is that pomegranate is a fruit with dense skin and fine grains; it takes time and effort to prepare and prepare it. In addition, not all juicers are able to cope with this product, and for manual squeezing requires sufficient physical strength. Another important point is seasonality. For example, it is difficult to find fresh pomegranate in the spring when it is most needed for obtaining vitamins.

Producers of juices, whose products can be found in almost any large store, come to the rescue. However, due to the fact that the production technology is associated with certain energy costs and terms, unscrupulous firms often try to forge a drink by diluting it with beet juice or water. From such juice there will be no benefit, but the money will be overpaid substantial. Consider the basic rules that will allow you to choose a real pomegranate juice.

The first thing we pay attention to when coming to the store is the packaging of the goods. Often, manufacturers make the packaging closed, and we have no other way to check the goods, except for its "cover". In the case of pomegranate juice products should be avoided in a closed container and buy the drink only in glass bottles. This will allow you to visually evaluate its color and texture.

The business card of the product must contain all the necessary information so that after reading you know exactly by whom, when and where this product was packaged or bottled. On the label must be indicated the composition of the juice, the consistency of substances. Natural pomegranate juice does not include sugar and other additives. Do not be lazy to study the small text, it may be hidden that the manufacturer wants to hide from the buyer.

In addition, pay attention to the quality of the label itself. Blurred letters, insufficient information, sloppy appearance may indicate an underground production of goods.

The juice of freshly squeezed pomegranate has a characteristic red-burgundy hue. When looking at the bottle, remember the berries of a ripe pomegranate, they resemble a ruby ​​in color - the liquid in the bottle should have the same shade. If the drink has too light shades, then there is a chance that the product is diluted. An excessively brown, rich color indicates that a peel of fruit or hips has been added during production.

Modern production technologies and filtration allow to produce high-quality pomegranate juice absolutely transparent. The presence of small particles in the liquid, but avoid bottles with a pronounced sediment of red or white. To ensure transparency, turn the bottle over or shake it. A poor-quality product will become turbid, insoluble elements that have precipitated will rise from the bottom.

Carefully read the label on the product, in the obligatory column should be listed all the products used in the production of juice. But special attention should be paid to what should not be in high-quality pomegranate juice. The pure product does not contain additives of apple, grape, beet juice, syrups and sugar. It is better to refuse a product with sweeteners, as the taste of spoiled fruit can be hidden behind the increased sweetness.

The ripening period of the fruit falls on autumn. It is grown in the southern regions and collected during the velvet season. Therefore, if the packaging shows the autumn months of production and bottling, it is highly likely that the fruits went for processing immediately as they were collected. The spring months of processing suggest that the pomegranate has been in stock for a long time, which means it could already be pretty spoiled, dried out or rotted. And in the summer, the immature fruits of the new crop are being recycled.

The best place for pomegranate trees is a subtropical climate. The regions closest to us that produce pomegranate juice are the Crimea, the Caucasus and the Mediterranean. Today, in the ranking of the best manufacturers, products from Azerbaijan occupy the first places.

In pursuit of savings, we often succumb to marketing tricks and purchase goods at a low price or all sorts of promotions. With regard to the pomegranate drink, remember that it can not be cheap. The fruit itself is sold as a fairly expensive piece goods, its processing and cleaning require some effort, so the juice squeezed from the pomegranate cannot be cheap.

There are situations when it is necessary to be absolutely confident in the absolute quality of the purchased product. For example, during pregnancy or adding a baby to food, to restore the body after a serious operation or illness. In all these cases, it is desirable to minimize the harm of counterfeiting. There is a popular method of checking any drinks containing dark or dark red fruits. So, pomegranate juice can be checked with soda. To do this, pour half a glass of warm water, dilute it with two pinches of soda, mix. Add in a glass of juice and look at changes in the color of the drink.

The pigments contained in the garnet will give a reaction, and the liquid will instantly acquire a bright brown shade. If the drink is diluted or contains other elements, the liquid will not change color. This method is also suitable for testing the juices from cherries, black currants, red grapes.

It is difficult to argue with the fact that freshly squeezed nectar will be the most valuable drink on your table. Preparing pomegranate juice on your own is not so easy, and is hardly suitable for daily consumption.

There are several ways to squeeze a grenade at home.

• Electric juicer. Despite the fact that this convenient assistant is in the kitchen of almost any housewife, with the processing of a grenade, problems may arise. The thing is in thick partitions inside the fruit, which can clog the mechanism of the juicer. Before placing the peeled fruit in a container, carefully read the instructions for the juicer to avoid breakage.
• Manual juicer. The handheld device used to produce citrus juice is also suitable for pomegranate. The fruit is cut in half (by analogy with an orange) and pressed against the flesh to the cone. By rotation, the juice is squeezed out of the berries and flows into the lower container.
• Manual method. It involves several ways and requires the application of time and physical effort.

The steps of the manual method are as follows.

1. Fruit should be peeled and membraned. The resulting berries are placed in cheesecloth and squeezed out until only bones remain.
2. Purified grains are placed in a bag and rolled out with a rolling pin until juice is formed, then filtered from the bag into a separate container.
3. Ripe intact fruit knead in the hands to a soft state. The more you manage to stretch the berries under the peel, the more juice you will end up with. The fruit is incised with a knife and the liquid is drained into the container. Consider that this method is suitable for people with trained hands, and not everyone can squeeze more than one grenade in this way.

Pomegranate juice should not be drunk in a concentrated form. The active substances and acids contained in pomegranate can cause inflammation of the gastric mucosa. Therefore, before use, the concentrate is recommended to be diluted with water.

A tasty and healthy mix comes from combining pomegranate with juices from other fruits, berries, or even vegetables.

The benefits of pomegranate juice, see the following video.