Is Grenadine Cherry Juice? The Truth About This Red Syrup

Grenadine is a sweet, red syrup made from pomegranate juice, while cherry juice is a separate beverage made from cherries, not grenadine.

Many people assume grenadine is cherry-flavored syrup because of its bright red color and common use in Shirley Temple drinks. But the truth might surprise you – authentic grenadine is actually made from pomegranates, not cherries.

What Is Grenadine Really Made From?

Traditional grenadine syrup gets its name from the French word “grenade” meaning pomegranate. The original recipe consists of:

• Pomegranate juice
• Sugar
• Sometimes orange flower water or rosewater

As cocktail expert Colleen Graham explains, “Contrary to popular belief, grenadine is not a cherry-flavored syrup. This sweet-tart syrup is actually made from pomegranates.”

Why the Cherry Confusion?

Several factors contribute to the common misconception:

1. Many commercial grenadine brands use artificial flavors and red dye instead of real pomegranate
2. Grenadine is often paired with maraschino cherries in drinks
3. The bright red color resembles cherry juice

Commercial vs. Homemade Grenadine

Type	Ingredients	Taste	Shelf Life
Commercial	High fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, red dye	Overly sweet, one-dimensional	Years (due to preservatives)
Homemade	Pomegranate juice, sugar, optional citrus	Complex, balanced sweet-tart	3 weeks refrigerated

Modern Variations

Some artisanal producers now blend pomegranate with other fruits:

• Dark Cherry Grenadine combines pomegranate and cherry juices
• Finest Call’s professional syrup uses both pomegranate and cherry for “a thicker consistency and long-lasting vibrant color”

How to Use Grenadine in Drinks

This versatile syrup appears in many classic cocktails:

• Tequila Sunrise
• Shirley Temple (and its alcoholic version, Dirty Shirley)
• Jack Rose
• Ward 8

For non-alcoholic options, try our best smoothies for cough and cold with a splash of homemade grenadine.

Creative Uses Beyond Cocktails

Grenadine’s sweet-tart flavor works well in many applications:

• Drizzle over pancakes or waffles
• Mix into yogurt or oatmeal
• Use in salad dressings
• Add to fresh apple juice for a fruity twist

Making Your Own Grenadine

Homemade grenadine is surprisingly simple:

1. Combine equal parts pomegranate juice and sugar
2. Simmer until sugar dissolves (about 10-15 minutes)
3. Cool and bottle
4. Add 1/4 oz vodka as preservative (optional)

For equipment, consider using a slow cold press juicer to extract fresh pomegranate juice.

Ingredient Substitutions

If you can’t find pomegranate juice:

• Use pomegranate-cranberry blend
• Mix black currant juice with pomegranate
• Add citrus peels during simmering

The key is maintaining that perfect balance of sweet and tart that makes grenadine so special in cocktails and beyond.