In the past seven months, 215 new pomegranate food and beverage products were introduced in the United States, according to Datamonitor's Productscan Online, which keeps track of new products. Last year, 258 pomegranate products were introduced, up from 93 in 2004, 31 in 2003 and 19 in 2002.

For centuries, the sweet but tart fruit has left a crimson splash in Greek mythology, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. But today's pomegranate has emerged through more secular outlets: Oprah, Rachael Ray and the Starbucks Frappuccino.

Unlike most fruit juices, drinking a commercial juice such as POM Wonderful is more healthful than eating the fruit itself, because 70 percent of the antioxidants found in the juice are released from the peel when the pomegranate is squeezed.