Stored
Grenadine syrup in a clear glass bottle showing its deep ruby-red color.
Shows the product's characteristic color and liquid form so readers immediately recognize it on a shelf or in a recipe.
Sweeteners
Grenadine
Sweet-tart pomegranate syrup for color and cocktails
Sweet-tart and ruby-red, grenadine sinks to the bottom of a tequila sunrise, sweetens a Shirley Temple, and tints drinks rosy. A little is plenty. Keep it at room temperature.
Grenadine is the ruby-red, sweet-tart syrup that gives cocktails their sunset blush — classically made from pomegranate juice and sugar, with a bright fruity tang (the name comes from grenade, French for pomegranate). Many commercial bottles are now just sweetened, colored corn syrup with artificial cherry flavor, so real pomegranate grenadine tastes notably more complex. It's a bar staple for Shirley Temples, tequila sunrises, and a dozen other drinks.
- Measured in
- ml
- Storage
- Room Temperature
Find it in
Types & varieties
Made from actual juice; tart and complex.
Sweetened colored corn syrup; one-note sweet.
Pomegranate juice reduced with sugar, often with orange-flower water.
How to use
Used by the splash, grenadine sweetens and colors drinks — its density makes it sink to create the gradient in a tequila sunrise. It also sweetens sodas and glazes desserts.
- Tequila sunrise and Shirley Temple
- Layered, color-graded cocktails
- Sweetening sodas and lemonade
- Glazing cakes and fruit
How to make
Simmer equal parts pure pomegranate juice and sugar until dissolved and slightly reduced; a dash of orange-flower water and lemon adds authenticity. Homemade tastes far brighter than corn-syrup versions.
- Equal pomegranate juice and sugar
- Optional orange-flower water and lemon
- Cool and bottle; refrigerate
Common uses
Tips & pitfalls
- Buy a brand made from real pomegranate juice for true flavor.
- Its density lets it sink and create the tequila-sunrise gradient.
- Homemade grenadine is easy and far better than corn-syrup bottles.
- A splash brightens and colors mocktails for kids (Shirley Temple).
Nutrition
Energy
1121 kJ · per 100 g
Where the calories come from
Protein
0g
0% DV
Carbs
66.9g
24% DV
Fat
0g
0% DV
Fiber
0g
0% DV
Sugars
46.6g
of which
Sodium
27mg
1% DV
Source · USDA FoodData Central · approx. Syrups, grenadine
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Matched grocery products
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Good to know
- Flavor
- Sweet-tart, fruity pomegranate (when real)
- Made from
- Pomegranate juice + sugar (traditionally)
- Best for
- Cocktails, mocktails, sodas, desserts
- Heads up
- Cheap versions are flavored corn syrup
- How to store
- Refrigerate after opening
- Shelf life
- Months refrigerated; homemade less
Substitutes
- Pomegranate molasses + sugar — Tart, deep; thin with water.
- Raspberry or cherry syrup — Different fruit, similar sweet-red role.
- Simple syrup + a splash of juice — Improvised color and sweetness.
Also called
grenadine · pomegranate syrup · granadina · sirope de granadina
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