Fruit syrup
Homemade Grenadine
Real grenadine is pomegranate, not cherry. Juice, sugar and a drop of orange blossom water. No corn syrup, no dye.
- 10 min total
- 1½ cups + 1½ tbsp380 ml
- Keeps 3 weeks
Quick answer
Real grenadine is pomegranate syrup: pomegranate juice and sugar warmed together until dissolved, with optional pomegranate molasses and orange blossom water. Warm 1 cup 100% pomegranate juice with 1 cup sugar until clear (don't boil), cool, and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.
The name comes from grenade, French for pomegranate. Most bottled grenadine today is corn syrup, red dye and artificial flavor, which is why it tastes like cherry candy. Homemade grenadine is tart, deep garnet and actually tastes of fruit.
This follows the method bartenders swear by, popularized by Jeffrey Morgenthaler: equal parts juice and sugar, warmed only enough to dissolve, with a spoonful of pomegranate molasses for depth and a few drops of orange blossom water for perfume.
Tastestart pomegranatedeep berryfloral
The recipe
Homemade Grenadine
Ingredients for 1½ cups + 1½ tbsp380 ml
You’ll need: small saucepan, citrus press, mini funnel, swing-top bottle, jiggersmall saucepan, citrus press, mini funnel, swing-top bottle, jigger
Method
-
Juice (if using fresh)
Halve the pomegranates and squeeze them on a citrus press, or put the seeds in a zip-top bag and roll firmly with a rolling pin, then strain. Don't blend the seeds; crushed white kernels make the juice bitter.
1 cup240 ml pomegranate juice1 tbsp1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
-
Warm
Combine the juice and sugar in a small saucepan over low heat and stir until the sugar has completely dissolved, about 5 minutes. Keep it steaming but never simmering, since boiling dulls the fresh pomegranate flavor.
1 cup200 g granulated sugar
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Flavor
Off the heat, stir in the pomegranate molasses and orange blossom water. Add the orange blossom gradually and taste; too much tastes soapy.
¼ tsp¼ tsp orange blossom water
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Bottle
Let it cool, funnel into a clean bottle and refrigerate.
Storage. Refrigerate in a sealed bottle for up to 3 weeks; a tablespoon of vodka helps it keep for about a month. Freeze extra in ice-cube trays for up to 3 months. A fizzy or winey smell means it's time for a new batch.
Per 1 tbsp (15 ml): about 31 kcal, 8 g sugar (estimate).
How to use it
Shirley Temple
¾ oz (22 ml) grenadine in 8 oz (240 ml) ginger ale or lemon-lime soda over ice, with a cherry. Add 1½ oz (45 ml) vodka for a Dirty Shirley.
Full recipe and historyTequila Sunrise
2 oz (60 ml) tequila and 4 oz (120 ml) orange juice over ice. Slowly pour ½ oz (15 ml) grenadine down the inside of the glass so it sinks.
Full recipe and historyJack Rose
2 oz (60 ml) applejack or apple brandy, ¾ oz (22 ml) lemon juice and ½ oz (15 ml) grenadine. Shake with ice and strain into a coupe.
Full recipe and historyRoy Rogers
¾ oz (22 ml) grenadine in 8 oz (240 ml) cola over ice, with a cherry.
Full recipe and historyPomegranate spritzer
1 oz (30 ml) grenadine and ½ oz (15 ml) lime juice in 6 oz (180 ml) soda water over ice.
Desserts
Drizzle over vanilla ice cream, Greek yogurt or a citrus salad.
Classic drinks with Grenadine syrup
Up and stirredGrenadine
El Presidente
Havana, Cuba, 1915
SoursGrenadine
Jack Rose
New York City, 1908
Alcohol-freeGrenadine
Roy Rogers
United States, 1940s
Alcohol-freeGrenadine
Shirley Temple
Hollywood, 1930s
HighballsGrenadine
Tequila Sunrise
The Trident, Sausalito, 1972
SoursGrenadine
Ward Eight
Locke-Ober, Boston, 1898
Gear for this recipe
Zulay Kitchen 2-in-1 Metal Lemon & Lime Squeezer
Heavy-duty hand press for lemons and limes. Fresh juice plus your syrup makes proper sours, lemonade and margaritas.
Best for Fresh citrus for sours and lemonade
Otis Classic 16 oz Swing-Top Glass Bottles (6-pack)
Best for Storing and gifting any syrup
OXO SteeL Angled Measuring Jigger
Best for Measuring syrup into drinks
Norpro Stainless Steel Mini Funnels (set of 3)
Best for Filling bottles cleanly
More gear for this recipe (1)
Cuisinart Chef's Classic 1.5 qt Stainless Saucepan with Lid
Best for Every stovetop syrup
Tips for the best batch
- Check the label: you want 100% pomegranate juice with nothing added. Blends cut with apple or grape juice taste flat.
- No-heat option: shake the juice and sugar in a sealed jar for 2–3 minutes until dissolved. It's the freshest-tasting version but keeps only about 10 days.
- Homemade grenadine is darker and tarter than the neon bottled stuff. That's the point; if you're used to commercial grenadine, you may want a touch more in drinks.
- Orange blossom water is strong. A quarter teaspoon perfumes the whole batch.
Variations
Rich grenadine (2:1)
Use 400 g sugar to 240 ml juice for a thicker syrup that sinks dramatically in a Tequila Sunrise and keeps about a month.
Spiced grenadine
Warm a cinnamon stick and 2 cloves with the juice, then strain. A winter version for hot toddies and mulled cider.
Rose grenadine
Swap the orange blossom water for ¼ tsp rosewater.
Questions people ask
Is grenadine made from cherries?
No. Grenadine is traditionally pomegranate syrup, and the name comes from the French word for pomegranate. Cherry-flavored bottles are mostly corn syrup and food coloring.
Can I use bottled pomegranate juice?
Yes. Any 100% pomegranate juice works and is what most bars use. Fresh-squeezed is brighter, but bottled is more consistent and far less work.
Is pomegranate molasses the same as grenadine?
No. Pomegranate molasses is juice boiled down to a thick, sour syrup with little or no added sugar. A spoonful adds depth to grenadine, but it's too tart to use on its own.
How long does homemade grenadine last?
About 3 weeks in the fridge, or around a month with a tablespoon of vodka added. Freeze it for up to 3 months.
What can I use instead of grenadine?
Raspberry or cherry syrup gives similar color and fruity sweetness in a pinch, but only pomegranate has grenadine's tart, slightly tannic taste.