Everything about pomegranate...

If figs and grapes are associated in Azerbaijan with its Absheron peninsular with tomatoes particularly with its village of Zira, saffron with village of Mashtaga, apples with another region of Azerbaijan Guba, nuts with Gabala, lemon with Lenkoran, white cucumber and white cornelian cherry with Sheki, potatoes with Gedebey, then when we see pomegranates we want them to come from Goychay. Since Goychay pomegranates with rich in colour and taste seeds are simply the best :).

Pomegranate season is taking off in Azerbaijan at the moment and all the markets are full of sweet and sour sorts of this fruit. Just like recognizing the most delicious melon or watermelon considers to be a task and challenge everyone here tries to master knowing which pomegranate to choose from all the ones which are offered (and said to be coming from Goychay :) in the bazaar is equally important. Good pomegranate would show in its skin...it would be ready to be cut...Grandparents and parents carry kilos of pomegranate to their loved ones. In addition to being served as fruit pomegranate is used in preparation and design of many dishes such as cabbage dolma, fish, gutab and many others. Pomegranate juice is good for renewing of blood (as we say here), immune system etc etc. People with diarrhea would boil pomegranate skin and drink the water...and get well of course.

In addition to all above pomegranate bears a philosophical meaning as well (this is East and everything has a philosophical background and meaning to it :). If I am not mistaken pomegranate is a fruit of wisdom. Fresco miniatures on walls of Sheki Khan Palace have pomegranate in many scenes. I couldn't find in my archive better photo than below one where you can see pomegranate tree painted on the wall of one of the rooms. You would need to visit the Palace to hear from museum hostess what meaning was given to pomegranate by our ancestors...

Please take a second and see my earlier posts here and here on pomegranate with pictures of trees in blossom...

Enjoy the season :)

Sheki Khan Palace with tales to tell...

Generous nature...