Grenadine /ˈɡrɛnədiːn/ is a commonly used nonalcoholic bar syrup characterized by its deep red color. It is a popular cocktail ingredient renowned for its flavor as well as its ability to give a reddish or pink tint to mixed drinks. Grenadine was traditionally made from pomegranate but is more often encountered as a syrup made from elder, blackcurrant, raspberry, gooseberry or other berries and fruits.
The name "grenadine" originates from the French word grenade, which means pomegranate, from Latin grānātum "seeded" (and possibly related to "pomme" which is the French word for apple). Grenadine was originally prepared from pomegranate juice, sugar, and water.[1] It is not related to the Grenadines archipelago, which takes its name from Grenada, which is itself named for Granada, Spain.[2]
As grenadine is subject to minimal regulation, its basic flavor profile can alternatively be obtained from a mixture of blackcurrant juice and other fruit juices, with the blackcurrant flavor dominating.[3]
To reduce production costs, manufacturers have widely replaced fruit bases with artificial ingredients. The Mott's brand "Rose's" is by far the most common brand of grenadine sold in the United States,[4] and is formulated from (in order of concentration) high fructose corn syrup, water, citric acid, sodium citrate, sodium benzoate, FD&C Red #40, natural and artificial flavors, and FD&C Blue #1.[5]
In recent years, better quality craft grenadines made using pomegranate juice have been brought into commerce.
Grenadine is commonly used to mix both modern and classic cocktails, including:
Grenadine is also a popular ingredient in some non-alcoholic drinks, such as the Roy Rogers, pink lemonade, and Shirley Temple cocktails, or simply mixed with cold water or soda in a glass or jug, sometimes with ice.
