An entire day spent picking and processing our delicious organic pomegranates! We're only a third of the way but there's 18 litres of pomegranate juice frozen and a dehydrator filled with pulp. The pulp will be milled into flour. Yup! Pomegranate flour. Don't ask me how it bakes or tastes in baking. This is my current experiment. Watch this space. Also on the list is fermenting some of the pomegranate juice - buuuuuuuuuuut - for today juicing the kilogrames and kilogrammes of pomegranates was enough. Added to which we had to haul and install heavy gates after our four cows trashed the gate leading to the solar panels. And then proceeded to frantically rub their horns on the solar panels. That post is for another day. Needless to say the cows survived their exploits, but only by a hoof. If they had blown the power cable our entire solar system would have become a fireworks display. Tonight as we clean up our pomegranate mess I half wish there was already some ferment going on in the juice. Ah the joys and challenges of homesteading life.
Fresh pomegranate juice is my favourite. That rich, slightly tart flavour is out of this world. A glass of the superfood has incredible nutritional value and is packed with folate, iron and a gazillion vitamins. But extracting the juice is quite a time consuming process.
Once you have picked your pomegranates you need to keep them chilled for at least a week - and up to two. This helps loosen their grip on the bitter pith. It also intensifies the flavour. When you are ready you need to work them directly from the cool room - in small batches. Freeze the pomegranate juice as you fill up the bottles. This prevents oxidation.
To begin: gently knock the skin of the pomegranates a few times to loosen the pips. Top and tail the ends then cut the pomegranate across the centre. Using the handle of your large chopping knife (or the back of a large serving spoon) knock the pomegranate rounded side so that the pips drop into a dish. They pop out surprisingly easily.
We split the family in two and hired an extra pair of hands for the day. Initially we tried a very old mincing machine but it was tiring and messy. Our Oscar juicer effortlessly did the job. And the wonderful wine red organic juice poured out. We had to strain the pulp later as it retains some juice. I also did not want it dripping in the dehydrator.
After carefully spreading my dehydrator trays I fed the rest of the pulp to all our chickens. They were grateful for the feast! I wonder if it will make the eggs pink.....
What a wonderful harvest of organic pomegranates we were blessed with this season. HalleluYah! There has been very little bird damage although it was a race (and chase) against the aggressive baboons. Welcome to Africa and our special homestead. We've had a very busy week in the gardens planting garlic and an assortment of root veggies. I've also had olives to begin brining and winter clothing to sew for the growing BuckarooBabies.
But on this chilly winter's night I'll put my feet up to the fire. Anyone for a glass of chilled pomegranate juice?
Organic and home made pomegranate juice, Oh boy that must be so time consuming to enjoy the delicious fruit of your labours, yes relax and enjoy!
Grew up with a hedge of pomegranates inland, took forever sitting trying to ply the fruit out, here you have a whole technique!
@tipu curate 2
It is delicious but it is going to have to last! We're pleased with the fruits of our labours but considering how much labour I don't think I'll be sharing
Massive task getting them into a juice, I would not share either 😅 enjoy!
Upvoted 👌 (Mana: 20/50) Liquid rewards.
Omg girl, you're rich... with vitamins!
You all did an amazing job!
Very interesting about extracting the pips. I would suspect you would get deep orange yolks from the chickens after the pulp.
Pomegranade is my favorite fruit ❤❤
Homemade juice, in winter - what can be better 😉
YEAH!! Not many people in our country know fresh pomegranate juice. But I learned to drink it overseas
Homemade pomegranate juice must be especially tasty.
Damn, that juice looks good! Pomegranates remind me of my childhood, my grandmother had a bush.
Oof I hope you can keep the cows away from the solar! Nosey pests!
Wow that's cool that your kids are helping, most of the time right when it's time to ask for some help, everyone's dissapeared 🤣
How many trees do you guys have? That's a lot!
OMG i'M SOOO JEALOUS OF YOUR POMEGRANATES! We all try to grow them here to various degrees of success, but none as rockin' as this!! Wow, wow, wow.
Some people do not want to consume pomegranate because it is difficult to extract, but it is one of my favorite fruits. We hit the pomegranate's butt with a wooden spoon so that the pomegranate seeds fall out. 😄 My mouth is watering as I look at the images you shared🤤
I can have a glass of pomegranate juice full of vitamins 😊
By the way, I'm sure the chickens were very happy. Maybe her eggs will be like pomegranates 🙃
Wouldn't that be funny! Pink eggs.
We also found that the fastest and less messy method was wacking the butt end. Thanks for your sweet comment