Sweet, succulent and reminiscent of Christmas, pomegranates don't look like much from the outside, but open this exotic fruit up and you'll find that seeds are truly the jewels in nature's crown.
Native to ancient Persia, and cultivated in the Mediterranean for thousands of years, the pomegranate – which means 'seeded apple' in Latin – is an exotic fruit that has never lost its appeal.
Its allure certainly worked for the Greek god, Hades, ruler of the underworld, who tricked the innocent Persephone into eating six pomegranate seeds, which bound her to spend half the year underground – hence our winter. Which begs the question: if the scoundrel had only managed to get hold of a lime, would we be living in permanent sunshine?
Call us shallow, but the pomegranate is particularly attractive because of its looks. Not its tough exterior, but the casket of ruby jewels you're presented with when you slice one open. In more prosaic terms they're mere seeds – about 600 of them – but their tangy and sweet juice confirms their status as a fruit fit for kings.
Recently, this hardy fruit with its thick, red-hued skin, obtained the accolade of a superfood due to its sky-high levels of antioxidants. But enough of myths and health benefits – we say eat them because they're versatile, perfect for sweet and savoury dishes, and they taste good.