A deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 6 metres, sometimes taller, pomegranates are widely cultivated throughout the Middle East and Caucasus region, north and tropical Africa, South Asia, Central Asia, the drier parts of southeast Asia, and parts of the Mediterranean Basin.
In the Southern Hemisphere pomegranate is typically in season from March to May. The juice or arils* of pomegranates are used in baking, cooking, juice blends, meal garnishes, smoothies, salads and alcoholic beverages, such as cocktails and wine.
*An aril is a specialised outgrowth from a seed that partly or completely covers the seed