Anardana is a spice used in Indian cooking to give a sour-sweet taste to dishes. It is made from the dried seeds of pomegranate fruit (Punica granatum). The seeds are dried along with the pulp, either by sun-drying or other means of dehydration. They are then ground or sold in whole form. They are an alternative to mango powder or amchur, which does not have the advantage of also giving some sweetness. They separate the seeds from the flesh, dry them for 10-15 days and then use them as an acidic agent for chutney and curry production.

Properties of Anardana
Anardana contains Energy, Carbohydrates, Sugars, Dietary fibre, Fat, Protein, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Vitamin, Folate, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

Use of Anardana in Cuisine
The Anardana is used as an ingredient in preparing various Indian foods. The fruit is used in India to sour chutneys and also in preparing pastries and breads. The entire seed of the fruit is consumed raw, though the watery, tasty aril is the desired part. Indian people use the spice made from the Anardana fruit to sprinkle over salads or vegetable dishes or over fruit salad. Anardana adds a delicate but rustic sour taste to food. The Anardana seeds are extensively used as a souring agent in Indian cooking, as well.

Use of Anardana in Medicine
The Anardana fruit juice has a number of health benefits. It is also thought to be medicinal and soothing to the stomach, as well as good for the heart. The polyphenols of the juice remove free radicals from cells, which helps in maintaining the human cell function intact. The polyphenols also aid in wound repair and in strengthening the immune system. They have an anti-inflammatory effect, as well. However, the most famous benefit of the Anardana juice is that, the juice can help to slow skin wrinkling. For this, the pomegranates have been a popular ingredient in anti-aging remedies, both traditional and modern, for several centuries.

Another benefit of the Anardana juice is that, it helps in getting relief from osteoarthritis, by slowing the deterioration of cartilage. The pomegranate juice is found to be effective in increasing blood flow to the heart, and hence, it is helpful for patients with ischemic heart disease, as well. The juice can also reduce arterial plaque. The Pomegranate aril juice provides about 16% of an adult"s daily vitamin C requirement per 100 ml serving. The juice is helpful in preventing the diseases like Rhinovirus Infection, Common Cold, Coronary Artery Disease, etc. As a whole, the Anardana or pomegranate juice has a number of nutritious products and it benefits human organ in a great way.