When Do Pomegranates Ripen? Nutritional Value, Benefits and How to Choose Them Explained

The beautiful pomegranate has a round, bright red outer appearance, while the arils inside are crystal-clear and vivid, tasting sweet and tart and very delicious. So, when do pomegranates ripen? What nutritional value and benefits do they have? What are the signs that a pomegranate is ripe? How do you choose one?

1. When do pomegranates ripen?

The flowering period of pomegranates is May——June, and they ripen in September——October. Flowering pomegranates bloom from May——October; after ripening they become large, multi-chambered, many-seeded berries, with numerous seeds in each chamber. The outer seed coat is fleshy and colored bright red, pale red or white; it is juicy, sweet with a tart note, and this is the edible part. The inner seed coat is horny, and in some it degenerates and softens, namely the soft-seeded pomegranate.

2. Nutritional value and benefits of pomegranates

Red pomegranates are rich in minerals and contain two major antioxidant components -- red pomegranate polyphenols and anthocyanins. They also contain linoleic acid, vitamin C, B6, E and folic acid. The extracted essence of minerals such as calcium, magnesium and zinc contained in red pomegranates can quickly replenish the moisture lost by the skin, making the skin brighter and softer.

1. Pomegranate juice contains a variety of amino acids and trace elements, and has multiple functions such as aiding digestion, resisting gastric ulcers, softening blood vessels, lowering blood lipids and blood sugar, and lowering cholesterol. It can help prevent coronary heart disease and high blood pressure, and can achieve the effects of strengthening the stomach, refreshing the mind, increasing appetite and promoting longevity; for those who drink too much alcohol, it has a remarkable effect in sobering them up.

2. Pomegranate is warm in nature and sweet, sour and astringent in taste, and enters the lung, kidney and large intestine meridians; it has the effects of promoting fluid production and quenching thirst, astringing and securing, stopping diarrhea and stopping bleeding; it mainly treats conditions such as fluid depletion with dry mouth and throat, excessive thirst, chronic diarrhea, chronic dysentery, blood in the stool and abnormal uterine bleeding.

3. Signs that a pomegranate is ripe

1. The rind turns from green to yellow, colored varieties develop full color, and the fruit surface becomes glossy.

2. The fruit ridges become visible.

3. The red or silvery-white needle-like crystals in the pulp cells become fully visible.

4. The seeds are plump, and the soluble solids content of the fruit juice reaches the concentration inherent to that variety. Ripe fruit should be harvested before rain, and harvesting is prohibited in overcast and rainy weather.

4. How do you choose a pomegranate?

1. Look at whether the gloss is bright; if it is bright, the pomegranate is fresh.

2. Weigh them in your hand; if two pomegranates are about the same size but one feels heavier in your palm, then that one is fully ripe and will have more juice inside.

3. Check whether the pomegranate's skin is very plump, that is, whether the skin and the flesh inside are tightly stretched; if it is loose, then it is not fresh; the outer skin should not have patches, usually yellow-black, because when opened, the pomegranate inside is mostly spoiled.

4. Some pomegranates have a few small black spots on the skin; this is not very important, and the inside is still good.