or scroll for handy tips and a little nostalgia.

Combine pomegranate juice with just three other ingredients and you have the most amazing cordial! Pomegranate cordial is perfect in drinks and cocktails or desserts.

Pomegranate Cordial or Grenadine?
Pomegranate Cordial is very similar to grenadine, but a little less sweet.
You could substitute it for many recipes requiring grenadine, though, including my Festive Fruit Cups.
Pomegranate Cordial Recipe
The recipe I’ve used here is based on the recipe for Passionfruit Cordial recorded by Nana Ling in the late 1930s.
I’ve adapted that recipe to to make Lime Cordial, Orange Cordial, Lemon and Mint Cordial and Elderflower Cordial.
Here, though, we’re making Pomegranate Cordial.
Ingredients for Pomegranate Cordial
To make this lovely cordial, you’ll need:
- fresh pomegranate juice
- caster sugar
- lemon juice
- tartaric acid.
Keep scrolling for ingredient quantities at the end of this post in the recipe card.

How do I juice a pomegranate?
It’s easier than you might think!
First, cut open the pomegranate and remove the seeds which contain all of that wonderful ruby red juice.

Check out my post, which contains an instructional video, if you’re unsure how to do this.
Once you have the seeds, simply whizz them in a blender or food processor and then put them through a sieve to extract the juice.

Can I use citric acid instead of tartaric acid?
You can, however tartaric acid is generally preferred in sweet cordials.
Keep in mind that while both are used as preservers, tartaric acid has a sharper and more biting sour taste, while citric acid has a refreshing and fruity sour taste.
So the cordial will have a slightly different taste depending on which acid you use.
How to make pomegranate cordial
It’s a simple process to make this cordial that you’ll enjoy for weeks.
Once you’ve juiced the pomegranate (see above if you need juicing instructions), combine pomegranate juice, lemon juice and sugar in a saucepan.
Stir over low-medium heat to dissolve the sugar. Heat until almost boiling and then take off the heat.
Add tartaric acid and stir through to dissolve.
Allow to cool a little.
Strain using a muslin cloth, before pouring into sterilised bottles and sealing with lids.
Place the cordial in the fridge or do you own research on bottling cordials for the pantry.
What can I do with Pomegranate Cordial?
My favourite thing to do is add it to lemonade to make a pink lemonade.
You can also pour it over ice cream or use it in my Festive Fruit Cups recipe.
Mocktails and cocktails that call for grenadine might also be nice with this cordial. Pomegranate Cordial Cocktail, anyone?
Looking for more ways to enjoy pomegranate?
Browse my list of the 20 best ways to enjoy this awesome fruit.

Pomegranate Cordial Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups fresh pomegranate juice
- 2 cups caster sugar
- 1 small lemon (juice only)
- 1 teaspoon tartaric acid
Instructions
- Combine pomegranate juice, lemon juice and sugar in a saucepan.
- Stir over low-medium heat to dissolve sugar. Heat until almost boiling and take off the heat.
- Add tartaric acid and stir through to dissolve.
- Allow to cool a little.
- Strain using muslin cloth, pour into sterilised bottles and seal with lids.
Notes
- To juice a pomegranate, cut open the pomegranate and remove the seeds which contain the juice. Once you have the seeds, simply whizz them in a blender or food processor and then put them through a sieve to extract the juice
- You can use citric acid instead of tartaric acid, but keep in mind that while both are used as preservers, tartaric acid has a sharper and more biting sour taste, while citric acid has a refreshing and fruity sour taste.