Granaat & Co

One of the best investments I’ve made this week cost R40.
Hidden on Yaga was The Land Where Lemons Grow by Helena Attlee, winner of the Guild of Food Writers’ Food Book of the Year 2015.

I opened it at random and found myself in sixteenth-century Italy. The author describes how people used almost every part of the citrus tree. Blossoms appeared in salads, preserves and scented waters. Unripe fruit became condiments. Tiny oranges decorated wreaths. Ripe fruit was eaten fresh, preserved or used as medicine. Even the peels found new life in pickles, relishes, focaccia, liqueurs and spiced bread.

Reading it, I smiled. Perhaps our ideas at Granaat & Co aren’t quite as modern as we like to think. Five hundred years ago, people were already asking the same question:

“What else can this fruit become?”

For small oil press owners, cosmetic formulators, homesteaders and researchers who enjoy pressing their own oil, we have something very interesting to offer.

Granaat & Co now offers cold-press quality dried pomegranate seed, carefully cleaned and dried, ready for oil extraction. Our seed is suitable for screw presses and other small-scale oil production systems, making it an excellent choice for anyone who wishes to produce their own premium pomegranate seed oil.

Available sizes:

500 g – R250
1 kg – R450
5 kg – R2,000
10 kg – Price on request

If you’re looking for high-quality pomegranate seed for oil production, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Debra Sullivan medically reviewed an overview of pomegranate and skin health. The article notes that topical pomegranate oils and extracts may support skin health because of their antioxidant content, while also pointing out that evidence is still evolving and users should patch-test new products.

Pomegranate Benefits on the Skin: Facts, Myths, How to Use It Pomegranates can help improve your skin health, but there are limitations to what superfoods like this fruit can do. Here’s what’s fact and what’s unproven.

I’m currently reading “Pomegranate”, a scientific book edited by Professor Vasiliki J. Lagouri, with chapters written by researchers from around the world.
In one study, the researchers compared the juice, peel and seeds of pomegranates.

They wanted to find out:

Which part has the strongest antioxidant activity?
Which part contains the most beneficial natural plant compounds?

They measured compounds such as phenols, flavonoids, tannins and ellagic acid, all known for their antioxidant properties.

Here’s what they found:

1. The peel was the clear winner.
It contained far more antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds than either the juice or the seeds.

The researchers concluded:

“The peels had higher antioxidant activity and phenol contents compared to juices and seeds.”

2. The juice is healthy…

…but it doesn’t contain nearly as many of these compounds as the peel.

3. The seeds also contain antioxidants…

…but less than the peel.

So, when it comes to these antioxidant compounds, the result was simple:

Peel > Juice > Seed

Of course, that doesn’t mean the seeds aren’t valuable. They contain their own unique treasures, including the rare fatty acid punicic acid, which makes pomegranate seed oil so special.

For us at Granaat & Co., this research confirms something we’ve believed from the beginning:

The peel isn’t waste. It’s one of the most valuable parts of the fruit.

Nature wastes nothing and neither do we. ❤️

Pomegranate seed oil isn’t only valued by natural skincare brands, it also appears in luxury cosmetics, including premium lip products.

Pomegranate Seed Oil. One of the rarest and most valuable botanical oils in modern skincare.

Rich in the unique omega-5 fatty acid punicic acid, this oil is prized for helping nourish and protect the skin. Because the seeds contain only a small amount of oil, every drop is precious.

It’s no surprise that internationally respected skincare brands have embraced it, including:

• Lancôme
• Weleda
• Dr. Hauschka
• Fresh
• Clarins

At Granaat & Co, we’re proud to produce this extraordinary botanical ingredient right here in the Klein Karoo.

Have a look at these three photographs.

Most of us think of pomegranate peel as just… peel. But when you break it apart, you discover that it’s made up of several different layers, each with its own job.

The red outer skin is the fruit’s armour. It protects what’s inside from the sun, insects and the outside world. Its beautiful colour comes from natural pigments called anthocyanins, the same compounds that give many red and purple fruits their colour.

Just underneath is the thick white layer. This is like the fruit’s cushion. It protects the seeds from little knocks while they grow. It’s also where you’ll find some of the pomegranate’s most remarkable antioxidant compounds, including punicalagin.

And finally, the yellow membranes hold everything together inside the fruit. They separate the chambers, support the seeds and are naturally rich in fibre and other beneficial plant compounds.

Isn’t it amazing?

Nature wastes nothing. And neither do we.

Have a guess before you read the comments… Which of these three layers do you think contains the highest concentration of antioxidants? 👇

Join us for a beautiful winter Sunday Il Giardino

At the Granaat & Co table, we’ll be bringing our growing collection of whole-pomegranate products: juice, teas, peel powder, reductions, flour, finishing salts, and other creations inspired by every part of the pomegranate. There will be lots to taste, talk about!!!
Alongside us, discover our Country Couture collection, timeless garments knitted from luxurious natural fibres such as cashmere, mohair, merino, and SILK. Inspired by Siberia and handcrafted in South Africa, each piece is high end and slow fashion.

Enjoy authentic Italian cuisine, browse beautiful artisan stalls, and spend a relaxed winter day in the botanical gardens. We can’t wait. See you at Il Giardino this Sunday!

Granaat & Co Working with the whole pomegranate
Food | Wellness | Beauty