Grenadine
© Denzil Green
Grenadine is a non-alcoholic syrup that is used to flavour and sweeten drinks and desserts. It used to be made from pomegranates, or a mix of pomegranates and red currants. Today it is usually made with other, mixed fruit juices, and artificially flavoured and coloured.
Red Grenadine is the most popular fruit syrup. It is used in many cocktails, and even used in children’s bar drinks, such as Shirley Temples. You just use one or two dashes in mixed drinks, as the sweetness can easily overwhelm a drink.
You can buy Grenadine in bottles at most stores.
Green Grenadine
Green Grenadine is coloured green, but tastes the same as Red Grenadine.
Cooking Tips
You can make your own Red Grenadine, but given that the cost of pomegranates is way more than a bottle of grenadine, it’s difficult to know why you would.
Substitutes
For Green Grenadine, you can substitute crème de menthe, though of course that will add a mint taste in addition to the green colour.
Language Notes
The name “Grenadine” comes from the French word for a pomegranate, “grenade.”