Grenadine Explained

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]

Etymology and origin

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]

Modern and commercial variants

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.

Use in cocktails

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.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rose's Grenadine Product Facts . Keurig - Dr. Pepper . 17 May 2024.
  2. Dictionnaire Universel de Cuisine Pratique : Encyclopédie Illustrée D'Hygiène Alimentaire, Joseph Favre, Paris, 1905, pp. 1088.
  3. Book: Fodor's Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, the Grenadines & Grenada. December 28, 2010. Fodor's Travel. 9780307928030. Google Books.
    - Web site: Grenadines Island Group (Grenada). UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
  4. Web site: Food and Drug Administration. 1980-01-10. Sec. 550.400 Grenadine. CPG 7110.11. 2009-08-23.
  5. Web site: Cadbury Schweppes. 2000-09-18. Media Release: Cadbury Schweppes to Acquire Snapple Beverage Group for an Enterprise Value of $1,450 Million. 2008-07-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20040612173104/http://www.cadburyschweppes.com/EN/MediaCentre/PressReleases/snapple_180900.htm. 2004-06-12.
  6. Web site: Wegmans - Rose's Grenadine Ingredients. https://web.archive.org/web/20101106212136/http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&productId=352053. November 6, 2010.
  7. News: December 4, 2022 . New York Times . February 20, 2002 . Male Bastion, 108, Saved By a Boss Named Lydia . R.W. . Apple Jr. .