Pomegranate: A Legend of Love & Passion

This past year, we’ve been cultivating Punica granatum ‘Parfyanka,’ otherwise known as the Pomegranate. You may have heard legends, myths, and even scientific studies related to this ancient fruit and its mystifying properties. Known to symbolize beauty, love, marriage, fertility, birth, hope, prosperity, and eternity, Pomegranate has quite the reputation! With Valentine’s Day coming up, we thought we would dive a little deeper into the legend of the Pomegranate and find out for ourselves if this powerful fruit really can bring love and passion into your life.

A mythological history

Pomegranate is thought to be the oldest cultivated fruit, dating back to 3000 B.C. The fruit with its pink-fleshed orb, bursting with ruby-red seeds and sweet red juice could entice anyone, and the gods and goddesses were no exception! Legend has it that Aphrodite, the goddess of love, planted a Pomegranate tree on the island of Cyprus. This is the only tree that Aphrodite ever planted, so it makes sense that the Pomegranate is attributed to her and her beauty.

The Pomegranate holds great cultural significance in Cyprus as well as parts of Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East. In many wedding traditions, the bride smashes a Pomegranate on the ground for good luck, and it is said that the number of seeds that fall out represents the number of children she will bear. This ritual is believed to promote fertility and the birth of many children for the couple.

Aphrodite was not only the goddess of love, but the goddess of beauty, pleasure, and fertility. Greek mythology claims that she had the power to not only make anyone (man or god) fall in love with her, but that she had the ability to make people “lose their minds”— possibly where the term Aphrodisiac originates. It seems that the ancient Greeks knew the influence of the Pomegranate, and by associating this powerful fruit with the goddess of love and pleasure, modern science would one day affirm that the Pomegranate promotes more than just love.

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Science behind the seeds

In premodern medicine, no part of the Pomegranate went to waste. The fruit, flower, bark, leaves, and roots were all used to treat certain ailments. According to the first-century naturalist Pliny the Elder, the Pomegranate plant was a cure-all. He wrote twenty-six different remedies using Pomegranate as the key ingredient! Modern medicine has found that the antioxidant properties in Pomegranate juice promote blood flow and circulation, contributing to overall heart health. Some may call the fruit a superfood, and when you discover the positive effects it can have on your intimacy, you’ll see why.

Men and women both can benefit from the positive effects of Pomegranate! Pomegranate has the ability to greatly enhance a person’s libido by increasing blood flow, balancing hormones, and providing essential nutrients to the body. Improved blood flow leads to more sensitivity and desire. Pomegranate also plays a key role in maintaining hormonal balance, which greatly impacts sexual wellness. There are natural compounds in Pomegranate that can positively influence hormone levels. The fruit is rich in phytoestrogens, which mimic estrogen in the body. Maintaining balanced levels of estrogen is essential for overall reproductive health. Research has also shown that Pomegranate may have a positive effect on testosterone levels in men and women, which can increase libido as well as sexual function. Consuming Pomegranate can be greatly beneficial to those with low testosterone.

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Aside from influencing hormone levels, studies have shown that Pomegranate can help regulate cortisol levels. High levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, can negatively influence libido. By enjoying Pomegranate, you can also reduce stress and thus promote sexual desire. Clinical studies suggest that regular Pomegranate consumption can greatly improve sexual function and satisfaction in both men and women. The fruit’s antioxidant properties, nutritional profile, and ability to support hormonal balance and blood flow make Pomegranate considered a superfruit by many! No wonder it’s been lauded as an aphrodisiac for centuries.

So if you’ve been looking for a new fruit tree to add to your orchard and you want to promote love and desire in your life, or want a beautiful fruit that supports heart health, consider a Pomegranate plant this Valentine’s Day!