Pomegranate and Grape Drink
A non-fermented beverage, deep ruby, blending tart pomegranate juice with sweet grape must, diluted with fresh water and perfumed with a little mint. Refreshing, festive, alcohol-free.
A non-fermented beverage, deep ruby, blending tart pomegranate juice with sweet grape must, diluted with fresh water and perfumed with a little mint. Refreshing, festive, alcohol-free.
Hold out your cup, friend, and drink without fear: this drink does not trouble the mind. I press the pomegranate between my palms until its seeds yield their blood, and I marry it with the juice of the morning-trodden cluster. Clear water, a crushed mint leaf, and here is what gladdens the heart without losing it. In the garden, we drank straight from the spring; today, it is in this cup that I still taste its sweetness.
- •Ripe pomegranates — what two hands can press (acidity and color)
- •Freshly pressed grapes (must) — a cup (sweetness)
- •Fresh spring water — to dilute (refreshment)
- •Fresh mint — a crushed leaf (flavor)
Pomegranate and Grape Drink
A non-fermented beverage, deep ruby, blending tart pomegranate juice with sweet grape must, diluted with fresh water and perfumed with a little mint. Refreshing, festive, alcohol-free.
Why this dish? The pomegranate and the vine are among the seven species and symbolize the abundance of the garden. This cup, fresh and lively, evokes the generosity of Eden — the joy of fruits, without intoxication, to be shared with family as a sign of blessing.
Hold out your cup, friend, and drink without fear: this drink does not trouble the mind. I press the pomegranate between my palms until its seeds yield their blood, and I marry it with the juice of the morning-trodden cluster. Clear water, a crushed mint leaf, and here is what gladdens the heart without losing it. In the garden, we drank straight from the spring; today, it is in this cup that I still taste its sweetness.
Ingredients (period version)
- Ripe pomegranates — what two hands can press (acidity and color)
- Freshly pressed grapes (must) — a cup (sweetness)
- Fresh spring water — to dilute (refreshment)
- Fresh mint — a crushed leaf (flavor)
Ingredients
- Pure pomegranate juice — 300 ml (acidity and color)
- Grape juice (preferably white, unsweetened) — 300 ml (sweetness)
- Fresh water — 200 ml (dilution)
- Fresh mint — a few leaves (flavor)
- Date syrup (silan) — to taste (sweetness adjustment)
Method
- Mix pomegranate juice and grape juice in a pitcher.
- Dilute with fresh water to desired intensity.
- Taste and adjust with a little date syrup if the pomegranate is too dominant.
- Crush the mint leaves between your fingers to release their aroma and add them.
- Chill for 30 minutes, then serve in cups, with a few pomegranate seeds on top.
How it was made : Before wine became widespread, must (fresh grape juice) and pressed fruit juices were also consumed, sometimes cut with water. The pomegranate, an emblematic fruit of the region, was pressed by hand or with a pestle; these fruit drinks were prized at festivals and receptions.
The contemporary twist : Pour over ice cubes and crown with pomegranate seeds that burst in the mouth: an alcohol-free "cup of Eden," perfect for a family toast.
Sources : Deuteronomy 8:8 · Song of Solomon 8:2 (pomegranate juice)
Adam and Eve · Charactorium
