If you’re looking for a mixer to add to your alcoholic beverages then you can’t go wrong with grenadine. In addition to a delicious taste, it adds an attractive appearance to your drinks, too.

Whether you’re looking to whip up a spectacular alcoholic drink or add a pretty color to your desserts, this versatile bar syrup is sure to become your best friend.

However, before you start making any creations, you may be wondering what exactly
Grenadine is and what it tastes like.

Essentially, grenadine is a pomegranate-based syrup that contains a deep red color that can be added to all your cocktails and mocktails for gorgeous color and taste.

The syrup flavor can range dramatically depending on how ingredients it is incorporated with. However, it generally ranges from sweet to tart.

With all this in mind, in this guide, we will explore everything you need to know about this popular ingredient and why it is added to all your favorite cocktails.

What Is Grenadine?

Believe it or not, Grenadine is made from pomegranate juice, sugar, and water – that’s it! The result is a sweet/ sour syrup that adds color and flavor to your cocktails.

However, depending on what you’re mixing your grenadine with will determine the flavor. For instance, it can range from citrusy to sweet-tart flavors when mixed with spirits such as gin or vodka.

Plus, another contributing factor to the taste of your grenadine drink is how much lemon/ lime you’re adding to your homemade drinks.

Moreover, grenadine is a popular addition to many cocktails, including the Pink Lady, Tequila Sunrise, and Shirley Temple.

Although, the history of grenadine is somewhat of a mystery. That being said, it has been around for a long time, or as long as 1869 when the ingredient was added to a recipe book by Ernest Newman, that is.

Here, the result of the ingredients was a syrupy, sweet concoction that he named ‘grenadine’.

While Ernest Newman wasn’t the first person to add grenadine to alcoholic beverages, he was the one who popularized the addition.

That being said, since grenadine is simply made from pomegranates, this syrup can be found in ancient texts used for medicines and drinks.

However, the references here are unclear. They could have used pomegranate juice or any other type of fruit juice for their creations.

Although, this is where the name ‘grenadine’ comes from. The ‘gren’ refers to the fruit, whereas the ‘-adine’ is from the French word Pamplemousse (blood orange). This doesn’t apply to any specific variety but is more about the sweetness when ripe.

Why You’ll Love Grenadine

• Balance – Grenadine helps to balance out any strong alcoholic flavors – providing your cocktails with equal quantities of fruitiness, sweetness, and tartness.
• Simplicity – The beauty of this syrup is that anyone can make it. With a super simple recipe, you’ll be able to make something better tasting than the store version.
• Versatility – Besides your alcoholic beverages, you can add grenadine to your food, too. It makes for a great glaze on your vegetables and meats, as well as a salad dressing.

What Does Grenadine Taste Like?

Grenadine is typically described as containing a tangy, sweet, and slightly acidic taste.

It is composed using pomegranate juice, as well as other types of fruit juices and sugar to create a syrupy sweet consistency.

Whether you decide to serve the drink in a tall glass loaded with ice cubes or add it to your favorite cocktails, it makes for an incredibly versatile ingredient.

One of the most popular cocktails that include the use of grenadine is the Tequila Sunrise. This consists of orange juice, tequila, and grenadine to create something that tastes like sunshine.

There are many different varieties of grenadine, however, one of the most common ways of enjoying the concoction is by making it yourself.

Although to make the syrups at home, you’ll need lots of patience and time. To make grenadine, you’ll first want to cook the pomegranate juice down so it becomes syrupy and thick.

Then, begin adding sugar syrup to create something that contains a sweeter taste as opposed to tart.

Once finished, you’ll be rewarded with a concoction that is deep red-orange in color, although, can range from light pink to deep red depending on what you’re adding the grenadine to and the quantities used.

Is Grenadine Alcoholic?

No, grenadine isn’t alcoholic. It only becomes alcoholic when added to other alcoholic beverages.

Instead, grenadine is a mix between sugar syrup and pomegranate juice – making it more similar to a fruit punch or iced tea.

Plus, the syrup is high in antioxidants, too. So you can’t drink this concoction all summer long without any guilt–feelings.

That being said, it is high in sugar so watch out!

How To Use Grenadine?

Grenadine can be used as a sweetener to add an abundance of natural flavor to your cocktails and other beverages. Moreover, it is a common ingredient found in cocktails including the Singapore sling, Applejack, Daiquiri, Tequila sunrise, and Jack Rose.

However, grenadine isn’t only reserved for cocktails, either. It can be used in cooking, too! For instance, add a small amount to a pan to create caramelized onions bursting with flavor.

Plus it can even be used as a glaze, too. Spread your grenadine on a wide variety of meats and toss it in the oven for something bursting with flavor.

Let’s not forget to mention it can be included in all your sweet treats, too. From cheesecake and ice cream to fruit salads – grenadine is incredibly versatile.

Final Thoughts…

Grenadine is an incredibly versatile ingredient that can be added to your cocktails, beverages, and sweet and savory dishes!

However, before you go ahead and start adding it to all your favorite recipes, you may want to know what it tastes like first.

Hopefully, this guide has provided you with everything you need to know about grenadine.