Grenadine is a commonly used nonalcoholic bar syrup characterized by its deep red color. It is a popular cocktail ingredient renowned for its flavor as well as its ability to give a reddish or pink tint to mixed drinks. Grenadine is a syrup traditionally made from pomegranate, but may also be made from other fruits such as elder, blackcurrant, raspberry, gooseberry, or commercially sourced natural or artificial flavors.[1]
The name "grenadine" originates from the French word grenade, which means pomegranate, from Latin grānātum "seeded".Grenadine was originally prepared from pomegranate juice, sugar, and water.[2] It is not related to the Grenadines archipelago, which takes its name from Grenada, which is itself named for Granada, Spain.[3]
As grenadine is subject to minimal regulation, its basic flavor profile can vary widely from the original pomegranate to combinations of unspecified natural and artificial flavors, to the use of other fruits, such as blackcurrants.[4]
To reduce production costs, manufacturers have widely replaced fruit bases with artificial ingredients. The "Rose's" brand (owned by Mott's) is by far the most common grenadine sold in the United States,[5] and is formulated from (in order of concentration) high fructose corn syrup, water, citric acid, sodium citrate, sodium benzoate, FD&C Red #40, natural and artificial flavors, and FD&C Blue #1.[6]
In recent years, craft grenadines made from pomegranate juice have appeared.
Grenadine is commonly used to mix both modern and classic cocktails, including:
Grenadine is also a popular ingredient in some non-alcoholic drinks, such as the Roy Rogers, pink lemonade, and Shirley Temple cocktails, or simply mixed with cold water or soda in a glass or jug, sometimes with ice.