The word grenadine (“gren-ah-DEEN”) comes from the French word for pomegranate, which is grenade (don’t worry—these fruits are not explosive). Grenadine is traditionally made from sweet-tart pomegranate juice, sugar, and sometimes flavorings such as allspice berries or rose water.
However, when you see bottles of grenadine at the store, most of them don’t contain any pomegranate at all! They’re often made from a mixture of high‑fructose corn syrup and natural and artificial colors and flavors—and they don’t taste much like the real thing. Good thing it’s easy to make this version (with real pomegranate juice) at home!