Most grenadine in the market is a non-alcoholic, red-colored, sweet, fruity, and flavorful syrup made primarily from pomegranate, sugar, and lemon juice and with added ingredients such as artificial color, fruit juice, and corn syrup for sweetness.
However, nowadays, you might find some alcoholic grenadine also that is made from vodka, rum, or artificial alcohol. It is pretty popular in bars and restaurants serving cocktails and mocktails because the syrup gives these drinks a bright red color and a sweet and tart flavor. Its name comes from the French word for pomegranate, which is “grenade.”
If you’ve never tried grenadine before, you might find it interesting, simply based on the fact that this syrup can be used in many ways for more creative touches to drinks and dishes.
Grenadine and its uses
While you may think that grenadine is used solely in cocktails, it is not entirely true. While its popularity stems from its use in alcoholic drinks, the syrup’s unique taste makes it versatile, and this versatility can be used in recipes that you might not even think possible. Here are a few things in which you can incorporate grenadine to add a bit more pomp to your food or drinks:
Cocktails
When you visit bars and restaurants offering cocktails, you will often find grenadine in them. This is because of the tropical, fruity, tangy, sweet flavor that this syrup adds to the drink. Along with this, the bright color infusion is a major attraction for people who drink these cocktails. Some great drinks that use grenadine include Bahama Mama, Hurricane, and Tequila Sunrise. Classic cocktail examples using grenadine include Mary Pickford, Singapore Sling, and El Presidente. So, when you are at a bar next time, order one of these drinks to see how grenadine gives them a unique touch and flavor.
Mocktails
Grenadine is so popular that mocktails, or non-alcoholic beverages, also use it. Some examples include soda, iced tea, and lemonade. You can also find grenadine in Sherley Temple, which is made from a maraschino cherry and ginger ale. And, if you are dying to try grenadine in a mocktail of your choice, simply ask your server whether the two will be a good combination.
Food
When added to food recipes, grenadine gives dishes a distinctive color and flavor. You can use it when making cakes, ice cream, cupcakes, or any other baked item. In addition, grenadine is amazing with sauces, marinades, and salad dressings. Your guests will certainly appreciate the creativity that it adds, making them unique. After this experience, they will not leave your home until you tell them your secret ingredient.
Grenadine varieties
Traditional grenadine is a simple mixture of three basic ingredients, but when the human mind gets creative, you can be sure that you will eventually find variations of the same product. And that is exactly the case. Grenadine comes in three different varieties:
Fruit-flavored
If you wish to add a fruity flavor to any recipe, all you need is a fruity grenadine. It uses concentrates or food extracts in addition to the traditional ingredients, some of which include cherry, strawberry, and raspberry flavors. This type of grenadine is especially perfect if you wish to make cocktails and mocktails fruity and flavorful. With this added taste, you can be sure to enjoy your drink more and have a perfect night out.
Alcoholic
While the amount of alcohol used is small, alcoholic grenadine will make your alcoholic drinks extra boozy and add a bit of alcohol to mocktails. However, while a great idea for parties, you should always use alcoholic grenadine in moderation, especially in alcoholic drinks, because alcohol in excess is never a good idea.
Non-alcoholic
This is the most common grenadine available in the market and is a great choice for those who wish to abstain from alcohol but still want to add a unique flavor and taste to their mocktails. In addition, it is a great topping for food and desserts since it is tangy and sweet. With non-alcoholic grenadine, your food and drinks will taste different.
Homemade grenadine
Many people prefer making grenadine at home because it is not only easy to do so, but you have complete control of how you make it and what ingredients you use. In addition, you have the option of skipping adding artificial flavors and colors, which are unfortunately found in grenadines found at supermarkets and can be harmful to your health. An all-natural grenadine will, in most cases, consist of three ingredients:
- Freshly squeezed or bottled pomegranate juice
- Sugar
- Lemon juice
To make grenadine, you should add all these ingredients to a pan and bring the mixture to a boil. After this, simmer it for around 20 minutes until thick, and you notice a reduction in volume. Leave it to cool and then refrigerate. These ingredients provide a perfect taste to the primary ingredient, i.e., the pomegranate juice, since the sugar adds sweetness, and the lemon juice balances this sweetness by making it tart.
You can store the syrup for three weeks or even longer if you add a bit of vodka or brandy to it, which will act as a preservative.
Conclusion
You can see that grenadine is pretty versatile in that it can be used in many ways, and it can act as an ingredient for many drinks and dishes. But you must be careful when choosing grenadine at your local supermarket. If you don’t drink alcohol or wish to cut it down, then non-alcoholic or fruity varieties are the best option for you.
To be sure, you should always check the ingredients list to see whether it contains alcohol or not. Better yet, make it at home so that you can produce a version that suits you best. Grenadine is great, as long as all the ingredients in it do not impact your health in a negative way.
I am a passionate beer connoisseur with a deep appreciation for the art and science of brewing. With years of experience tasting and evaluating various beers, I love to share my opinions and insights with others and I am always eager to engage in lively discussions about my favorite beverage.
