Grenadine
Encyclopedia
Grenadine is traditionally a red syrup
. It is used as an ingredient
in cocktail
s, both for its flavor
and to give a reddish/pink tinge to mixed drink
s. "Grenadines" are also made by mixing the syrup with cold water in a glass or pitcher, sometimes with ice.
The name "grenadine" comes from the French
word grenade which means pomegranate. Grenadine was originally prepared from pomegranate juice
or cherry juice and sugar. However, "grenadine" is also a common name applied to syrups and beverages consisting of other fruit juices (e.g. raspberry
, redcurrant
, blackberry
) and sugar syrup. The characteristic flavor can be obtained from a mixture of blackcurrant
juice and other fruit juices with the blackcurrant flavor dominating.
Grenadine was also one of the original non-alcoholic ingredients of the Sea Breeze cocktail when it was first introduced by Jack Bender in the 1920s. Eventually, the grenadine was removed, and the gin was replaced by vodka, although the mixture of grapefruit juice and cranberry juice remained a part of the drink. It is unknown when the vodka began replacing the gin and grenadine.
The food industry, however, has widely replaced grenadine fruit bases with artificial ingredients. The Mott's
brand "Rose's", by far the most common grenadine brand in the United States, is now formulated entirely out of a high-fructose corn syrup base.
Grenadine can be created by simmering pomegranate juice for 15 minutes on the stove, then adding superfine sugar. Grenadine can also be quickly prepared "cold" by adding superfine sugar to cold pomegranate juice, then shaking vigorously for a few minutes.
Grenadine syrup is commonly used to mix "cherry" Coca-Cola
s (also called Grenadinis or Roy Rogers cocktails), pink lemonade, Shirley Temple cocktail
s, Tequila Sunrise
s, Cherry Bombs (Bailey's, Kahlua and Grenadine) and flavor-soaked cherries, making them bright red. These are in turn often used in fruitcake
s. It can also be added to a Mimosa
to give it a red and orange color. Grenadine can also be combined with beer
, as seen being ordered by Mary Coombs as early as 1974 in the movie Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry
, forming what has been coined "grena-beer" or more recently "Christmas beer". In North America a combination of beer and grenadine is commonly known as a 'Queen Mary.' A bière grenadine or Monaco, as the combination is known in the French-speaking precincts there, has been popular in Europe for many decades, since at least the Second World War, and perhaps earlier; specifically, a mix of blonde ale and grenadine is called a "Tango", and a mix of beer and lemonade (basically, a shandy or a "panaché") with grenadine is a "Monaco". The name is also applied to alcoholic cordials, such as that made by J. R. Phillips "originally distilled from Devon herbs and spices".
Syrup
In cooking, a syrup is a thick, viscous liquid consisting primarily of a solution of sugar in water, containing a large amount of dissolved sugars but showing little tendency to deposit crystals...
. It is used as an ingredient
Ingredient
An ingredient is a substance that forms part of a mixture . For example, in cooking, recipes specify which ingredients are used to prepare a specific dish. Many commercial products contain a secret ingredient that is purported to make them better than competing products...
in cocktail
Cocktail
A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that contains two or more ingredients—at least one of the ingredients must be a spirit.Cocktails were originally a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. The word has come to mean almost any mixed drink that contains alcohol...
s, both for its flavor
Flavor
Flavor or flavour is the sensory impression of a food or other substance, and is determined mainly by the chemical senses of taste and smell. The "trigeminal senses", which detect chemical irritants in the mouth and throat as well as temperature and texture, are also very important to the overall...
and to give a reddish/pink tinge to mixed drink
Mixed drink
A mixed drink is a beverage in which two or more ingredients are mixed. Some mixed drinks are alcoholic beverages that contain liquor; others are non-alcoholic.-Types:Some popular types of mixed drinks are:...
s. "Grenadines" are also made by mixing the syrup with cold water in a glass or pitcher, sometimes with ice.
The name "grenadine" comes from the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
word grenade which means pomegranate. Grenadine was originally prepared from pomegranate juice
Pomegranate juice
Pomegranate juice is made from the fruit of the pomegranate. It is used in cooking both as a fresh juice and as a concentrated syrup, particularly in Persian cuisine.-Possible health benefits and risks:...
or cherry juice and sugar. However, "grenadine" is also a common name applied to syrups and beverages consisting of other fruit juices (e.g. raspberry
Raspberry
The raspberry or hindberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus Rubus, most of which are in the subgenus Idaeobatus; the name also applies to these plants themselves...
, redcurrant
Redcurrant
The redcurrant , Ribes rubrum, is a member of the genus Ribes in the gooseberry family Grossulariaceae, native to parts of western Europe...
, blackberry
Blackberry
The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by any of several species in the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. The fruit is not a true berry; botanically it is termed an aggregate fruit, composed of small drupelets. The plants typically have biennial canes and perennial roots. Blackberries and...
) and sugar syrup. The characteristic flavor can be obtained from a mixture of blackcurrant
Blackcurrant
Blackcurrant, Ribes nigrum, is a species of Ribes berry native to central and northern Europe and northern Asia, and is a perennial....
juice and other fruit juices with the blackcurrant flavor dominating.
Grenadine was also one of the original non-alcoholic ingredients of the Sea Breeze cocktail when it was first introduced by Jack Bender in the 1920s. Eventually, the grenadine was removed, and the gin was replaced by vodka, although the mixture of grapefruit juice and cranberry juice remained a part of the drink. It is unknown when the vodka began replacing the gin and grenadine.
The food industry, however, has widely replaced grenadine fruit bases with artificial ingredients. The Mott's
Mott's
Mott's is a company involved in producing apple-based products, particularly juices and sauces. The company was founded in 1842 by Samuel R. Mott in Bouckville, New York, who made apple cider and vinegar. Mott products were exhibited at Philadelphia's Centennial Exposition in 1876 and Chicago's...
brand "Rose's", by far the most common grenadine brand in the United States, is now formulated entirely out of a high-fructose corn syrup base.
Grenadine can be created by simmering pomegranate juice for 15 minutes on the stove, then adding superfine sugar. Grenadine can also be quickly prepared "cold" by adding superfine sugar to cold pomegranate juice, then shaking vigorously for a few minutes.
Grenadine syrup is commonly used to mix "cherry" Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
s (also called Grenadinis or Roy Rogers cocktails), pink lemonade, Shirley Temple cocktail
Shirley Temple cocktail
A Shirley Temple is a non-alcoholic mixed drink made with two parts Ginger ale, one part orange juice, and a splash of grenadine, garnished with a maraschino cherry...
s, Tequila Sunrise
Tequila Sunrise (cocktail)
The Tequila Sunrise is a cocktail made in two different ways, the original and the more popular concoction...
s, Cherry Bombs (Bailey's, Kahlua and Grenadine) and flavor-soaked cherries, making them bright red. These are in turn often used in fruitcake
Fruitcake
Fruitcake is a cake made with chopped candied fruit and/or dried fruit, nuts, and spices, and soaked in spirits. A cake that simply has fruit in it as an ingredient can also be colloquially called a fruitcake. In the United Kingdom, certain rich versions may be iced and decorated...
s. It can also be added to a Mimosa
Mimosa (cocktail)
A Mimosa is a cocktail-like drink composed of one part champagne and one part thoroughly chilled orange juice. It is traditionally served in a tall champagne flute with a morning brunch as hair of the dog or to guests at weddings. ....
to give it a red and orange color. Grenadine can also be combined with beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
, as seen being ordered by Mary Coombs as early as 1974 in the movie Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry
Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry
Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry is a cult 1974 car chase film starring Peter Fonda, Susan George, Adam Roarke, and Vic Morrow. The film was directed by John Hough...
, forming what has been coined "grena-beer" or more recently "Christmas beer". In North America a combination of beer and grenadine is commonly known as a 'Queen Mary.' A bière grenadine or Monaco, as the combination is known in the French-speaking precincts there, has been popular in Europe for many decades, since at least the Second World War, and perhaps earlier; specifically, a mix of blonde ale and grenadine is called a "Tango", and a mix of beer and lemonade (basically, a shandy or a "panaché") with grenadine is a "Monaco". The name is also applied to alcoholic cordials, such as that made by J. R. Phillips "originally distilled from Devon herbs and spices".