Review: POM Wonderful

I love fruit juices of all kinds. Orange. Apple. Grape. Grapefruit. Guava. Cranberry. Passion Fruit. Unfortunately, many brands ruin it with way too much sugar. Even my gargantuan sweet tooth can't handle that much fructose. So, when I was invited to review some all-natural pomegranate juice from POM Wonderful, I happily agreed. I had never eaten a pomegranate before (!) so I was game to try something new.

POM Wonderful's 100% Pomegranate Juice is just that. 100% authentic and 100% pure with no added sugar, preservatives, colorants or fillers. POM Wonderful controls the quality of their juices by growing their own fruit, picking it by hand, squeezing it with their own presses and manufacturing their own bottles. Their orchards are located right here in the U.S. in California so you never have to worry about imported ingredients.

Pomegranates are one of the earliest cultivated fruits in history and are a symbol of health, fertility and rebirth. They are an excellent natural source of potassium and antioxidants (more so than red wine, grape, blueberry, cranberry and green tea) and clinical studies have shown positive effects on cardiovascular health and prostate and erectile function. POM Wonderful pomegranates are an exclusive variety, known for their deep crimson color and superior taste.

The first thing I noticed when I received my samples was the sexy, curvy bottle. I couldn't wait to taste the juice. I wasn't sure initially how I should try it but the POM Wonderful recipe section came to my rescue. From appetizers to main courses to desserts, there are a gazillion ways to incorporate POM pomegranate juice into your diet. A smoothie sounded right up my alley so I gave the POM Morning Shake a go:

POM Morning Shake

1 cup POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
3/4 cup low-fat or soy milk
2 ice cubes
1 large banana, peeled and broken into chunks
2 tbsp unsalted almonds, sliced
1 tsp honey, to taste
2 tbsp protein powder (optional)

Combine ingredients in a blender, cover and blend on high for 30 seconds or until desired consistency. Serve immediately.

(c) Chef POM Wonderful

I loved this shake! It was such a yummy, healthy pick-me-up in the morning and a great way for me to add some fruit to my diet. It was so incredibly fast and easy to make; it would be perfect for those busy mornings when you have to get out the door but don't want to skip breakfast. It is also a very versatile recipe. You could use vanilla low-fat yogurt or frozen banana chunks in lieu of the ice cubes for a thicker texture, which I prefer.

I found the juice to be a little too tart for my taste to drink straight from the bottle, so I mixed it with equal parts Canada Dry Green Tea Ginger Ale to make a fun, tasty red spritzer.



The next recipe I'm eyeing is the Homemade Buttermilk Pancakes with Pomegranate Syrup. Mmmm...If you don't have all the ingredients, you could always cop out and mix some pomegranate juice with maple syrup or make some "pink pancakes" by mixing it in with the batter. Any way you serve it, it sounds dreamy. As a matter of fact, I think tomorrow morning I'll be devouring this treat.

The only disadvantage I can think of with POM Wonderful is the price. At nearly $5/pint, it is rather expensive and with just one income, I'm not sure we could afford to buy it regularly. But it is something I could see myself splurging on now and again.

Bottom line: While it is pricey, I do like that POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice is 100% natural with no imported ingredients or fillers like pear or white grape juice. You pay for a high-quality, healthy beverage. If you can swing it, I would recommend checking out POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice to get your fruit fix. It's good and it's good for you!

BUY IT: You can find POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice and other POM Wonderful products (including blueberry, cherry and mango juices and teas - even iced coffee!) in the refrigerated section of the produce department at your local supermarket. The Pomegranate Juice is available in 8 oz., 16 oz., 24 oz., 48 oz., and 60 oz. bottles (ARV $4.99/16 oz. and $9.99/48 oz.).

Disclaimer: I was sent a box of POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice from Kristen at POM Wonderful to facilitate my candid review. I was in no other way compensated for this post. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine alone. Your experience may differ.