Field guide · Autumn (Med)

Pomegranate

Romã, granada, melagrana — most of what Europe eats comes off the Spanish southeast, around Elche, where the Mollar variety grows seeds soft enough to swallow whole rather than spit. Choose by weight: heavy for its size, skin taut and leathery, and a slightly angular shape is a good sign, not a flaw — it means the seeds inside are pressed full against the walls. Ignore the bowl-of-water method. Simplest thing to do with it: halve it, hold it cut-side down over a bowl, and hit the back of the skin with a spoon until the seeds rain out.

Noted 2026-07-26