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| GRANADA. |
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| INTRODUCTION |
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ORIGIN AND VARIETIES
It is known that the pomegranate tree was cultivated in very remote times because 2.500-year-old Egyptians have found indications of the consumption of this fruit in graves before the Christian age. One believes that the Carthaginians introduced the pomegranate tree in the Mediterranean region immediately after the wars Púnicas, hence his name proposed by Linneo: Punica granatum. Teofrasto described this tree about 300 B.C. and Plinio referred to him like one of the most valuable fruit trees.
 The grenade is a fruit arbustiva native to the Eastern bloc of Europe (Coast Dálmata and Greece) and East (Palestine, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan), that is to say, his origin spreads from the Balkans up to the Himalayas. At present, his cultivation is extended by diverse countries of Europe, Asia and America, being outstanding in countries like Afghanistan and Iran, with varieties especially perfumed and tasty, Israel, Brazil and California. Spain is one of the principal producers of the world and the biggest European exporter. The current pomegranate tree surface in Spain overcomes 2.500 hectares, with a production next to 20.000 tons. The varieties most produced in Spain, especially in Andalusia and the Levantine area (Alicante and Murcia) are: which matures between October and November, andof earlier compilation, with a few generally higher sale prices, due to the product scarcity in the epoch of compilation.
HIS BEST EPOCH
Although the grenades begin appearing on the markets in the middle of September, the autumn is brought in when this fruit offers us his grains in all his plenitude, and it is supported till the end of January. The grenade must be gathered before it matures completely, if it is not like that, the fruit exploits in the tree. The thickness of his skin makes possible to store them for months and that resists well the transport.
CHARACTERISTICS
 a berry is a so called balausta, of round form.
 lnormalmente his diameter ranges between 70-90 millimeters or more.
 happen different scales that go of the red brilliant one to the yellowish green or to the whitish one.
 the interior of the grenade is divided by means of a whitish membrane where every container lodges numerous seeds of pink or red color of sweet and sour flavor that remembers lightly that of the redcurrants.
HOW TO CHOOSE IT AND TO PRESERVE IT
It is convenient to choose the fruit without courts or bruises. A quality grenade appears stay away of growth cracks and without wrinkles in the skin, which can be a delay consequence in his compilation. It is very important that the skin is hard and smooth and that it has a living color with brown tones. It is necessary to choose the copies of good size and of high weight with regard to his size. It is possible to open when the rind acquires a brown tone. The grenades are supported in good conditions for several days if they survive to temperature ambience. If they are not going to be consumed immediately, it is preferable to keep them in the refrigerator, and this way his useful life gets longer approximately three weeks.
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Composition for 100 grams of eatable portion |
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Calories |
31,8 |
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Carbohydrates (g) |
7,5 |
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Fibre (g) |
0,2 |
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Vitamin C (mg) |
5,7 |
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Provitamina A (mcg) |
3,5 |
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Potassium (mg) |
275 |
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Magnesium (mg) |
3 |
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Calcium (mg) |
8 |
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| mcg = micrograms |
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NOURISHING PROPERTIES
It is a fruit of very low caloric value due to his scarce content of carbohydrates. The majority component is the water and other nutrients, only he emphasizes his mineral potassium contribution. This mineral is necessary for the transmission and generation of the nervous impulse and for the normal muscular activity, it intervenes in the water balance inside and out of the cell. Other outstanding components are the citric acid (of action disinfectant, alcaliniza the urine and potency the action of the vitamin C), málico, flavonoides (pigments of antirust action) and the tannins. The above mentioned are substances with astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. Some of the actions of the tannins are to dry and desinflamar the intestinal mucous membrane (layer that upholsters the interior of the digestive conduit), therefore they turn out to be effective in the treatment of the diarrhea. The tannins are recognized quickly by the rough sensation that they produce to the palate.
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