The land of Herzegovina amazes with its raggily beautiful land, deep valleys and turquoise waters of Neretva river. Because of its mild climate, this place is perfect for growing fruit like figs, grapes, lemon, pomegranate, apples, cherries and even bananas.
Pomegranate is among the oldest cultivated types of fruit in Herzegovina. Now let`s take a look at some facts and health benefits that this fruit brings.
The pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a shrub that produces a red fruit.
Categorized as a berry, the pomegranate fruit is about 5-12 cm (2-5 inches) in diameter. It is red, round and looks kind of like a red apple with a flower-shaped stem.The skin of the pomegranate is thick and inedible, but there are hundreds of edible seeds called arils within.
The arils are what people eat, either raw or processed into pomegranate juice.
They are a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants, not to mention fiber and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have also shown that eating the fruit and/or drinking pomegranate juice can help protect against disease, like certain cancers and Alzheimer’s.
High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the leading drivers of heart attacks and strokes.
In one study, people with high blood pressure had a significant reduction after consuming 150 ml (5 oz) of pomegranate juice daily for 2 weeks.
In Herzegovina, you can find the pomegranate tree in almost every courtyard and garden. Fresh pomegranate can be found in gardens and shops from the mide September to mid of November. The most cultivated variety is the Glavaš variety.
In case you have missed it, read our story about figs, which are a noble kind of fruit and the varieties of PetrovaÄa and Tenica are mostly grown in Herzegovina.
As a symbol of Herzegovina pomegranate has become a favorite motif of the painters and artists. Today it can be seen in our art galleries where at least one third of the images are with the motif of still life with pomegranates.
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