A pomegranate is a round fruit about the size of an apple, with thick reddish-orange skin and hundreds of tiny, jewel-like seeds inside. Each seed is surrounded by a burst of sweet-tart juice in a translucent red coating. Breaking open a pomegranate reveals chambers filled with these glistening seeds, called arils, packed together like rubies in a treasure chest.

Eating a pomegranate takes patience. You can't just bite into it like an apple. Instead, you cut it open and pull out the seeds one by one, or tap the back of the fruit with a spoon to release them. The juice stains everything it touches a deep crimson color, which is why pomegranate has been used as a natural dye for thousands of years.

Pomegranates have been grown in the Middle East and Mediterranean region for over 4,000 years and appear in ancient art, myths, and religious texts. Today, you'll find pomegranates in grocery stores from late fall through winter, when they're in season. Some people sprinkle the seeds on salads or yogurt, while others press them for juice.