Grenade Lemonade

Pomegranate lemonade in brilliant red

Grenade is the French word for pomegranate, and this variety captures its tart-sweet notes in a bottle. Deep red in the glass, fruity on the palate, with a slightly astringent finish. The most striking color in the entire range.

The Grenade Limonade is La Mortuacienne's pomegranate lemonade, bearing its French name on the label. Its ingredient list is shorter than that of the citrus varieties, as it only requires sparkling water, sugar, citric acid, natural flavoring, and a coloring agent. Fewer components, a clearer picture in the glass.

Tart-sweet, juicy, with a slightly rough finish

In the glass, it is unmistakable: a rich ruby red that appears almost translucent when backlit. The aroma remains restrained, significantly quieter than that of lemon or grapefruit.

The initial taste is fruity and sweet, followed by the typical pomegranate pull—that slightly furry sensation on the tongue that real seeds also leave behind. The sugar content is 8.5 grams per 100 milliliters, placing it in the mid-range, though the tartness makes it feel less sweet than the mandarin variety.

Because the color is so vibrant, Grenade lemonade also makes an impression in a carafe, served with a few ice cubes and a slice of lime.

This combination makes it the most interesting variety for people who otherwise find lemonade boring. It doesn't taste like candy, but like fruit with an edge.

The classic behind every French bar

Pomegranate and France have gone hand in hand ever since grenadine came into existence. This syrup has been as standard in bars and cafés there as raspberry syrup is for us, and has been served since the 19th century.

The color of Grenade lemonade shows to best advantage served pure over ice; as an aperitif with a splash of Prosecco, the red rises through the glass. With a drop of red vermouth, it becomes a long drink that looks good without any extra effort.

At the table, Grenade lemonade pairs well with savory items. It belongs next to cheese, nutty pastries, and a slice of raw ham. It is also lovely with dark chocolate, because the tartness of both sides meets perfectly. It should be served ice-cold in the glass, otherwise the sweetness feels heavy.

Why the pomegranate is so difficult to grasp

Hardly any fruit is so cumbersome to process. Anyone who has ever opened a pomegranate knows the red splashes on their shirt.

It has been cultivated for over 4,000 years, originally in Iran and northern India, and today around the Mediterranean. It came to France via Spain.

There are up to 400 seeds in a single fruit. Only the aril surrounding them is edible, and to get to it, one must completely remove the bitter white membranes. Any that end up in the juice make the result tart to inedible. In the kitchen, this is painstaking work; in beverage production, it is a matter of clean flavor extraction.

That is precisely why this bottle lists natural flavoring instead of direct juice. It delivers the pomegranate note without the tannins that would otherwise make the drink unbalanced, and it keeps the recipe consistent for years.

Grenade is one of ten varieties from Rième, and like all the others, it rests on the sugar base that Marcel began cold-mixing in 1921. For those who enjoy tartness, there is also the pink grapefruit lemonade and the Pink Agrumes made from four citrus fruits. Nine other varieties can be found under La Mortuacienne. A deposit applies to the bottle.