Nar Ekşisi From Tradition To World Cuisine
Punica Nar Ekşisi (Pure Pomegranate Extract) is the embodiment of dreams of a farming family who pursued its agricultural traditions for generations…
Punica is actually a vision to produce nar ekşisi, the local gastronomical treasure that has maintained its valued place in all Mesopotamian kitchens throughout history, according to international standards and present it to the world cuisines.
Nar Ekşisi (pure pomegranate extract) is one of the finest forms of pomegranates that have been cultivated for thousands of years in Mesopotamia and has a reputable place in the cuisines of all civilizations flourished in these lands. Being a part of this heritage, we have decided to produce nar ekşisi following the gastronomic traditions with universally acknowledged standards.
Punica is produced from the pomegranates that we pick from our family garden in Harran Plain, Şanlıurfa, Turkey. We’re trying to harvest and serve the best of local bounty. Our pomegranate extract Punica is the result of this effort.
Trademarks of Punica
- Boutique production, single orchard, sustainable quality
- Same producer at all levels of manufacture from garden to table
- Balanced taste by blend of 3 different types of pomegranate
- “Tradition” and “Innovation” hand-in-hand
- Process that does not allow the formation of carcinogen HMF
- Product approved by the US and European food standards (TS 12720 and FSSC 22000 Certification)
Inspirations from PUNICA
Punica is inspired by Urfa, its birthplace, and the region’s traditional nar ekşisi methods. While producing nar ekşisi In Urfa, the goal is not just sourness, acidity or sweetness. It’s about capturing the full spectrum of flavors that the pomegranate naturally holds.
With this in mind, we harvest our fruits at peak ripeness and use Punica-specific techniques to preserve every layer of flavor. The result is a taste where the first bite makes you say, “This is pomegranate!” 😊
Punica is not about sweetness or sourness alone — it’s the harmony of our Hicaz, Devedişi, and Katırbaşı pomegranates. Its multi-layered flavor inspires both chefs and home cooks to explore new ways to enjoy nar ekşisi.
Our Orchard
Our pomegranate garden stretches over 60 decards (approx. 15 acres) of Harran Plain on the fertile Mesopotamian soil and contains four thousand carefully nurtured trees. Every autumn, these pomegranate trees, that we grow according to good agriculture practices, present us with their delicious fruit.
Punica & Punica Unfiltered
Each harvest season, we craft two distinct varieties of nar ekşisi: Punica and Punica Unfiltered.
Punica is available in 250 ml bottles, with the harvest year proudly displayed on the front label. This is because Punica can be aged at home under suitable conditions, developing deeper flavors over time.
Whether you prefer a Young or Aged Punica, each offers its own unique flavor profile and culinary possibilities.
Your choice between Punica and Punica Unfiltered depends on your personal taste.
While Punica undergoes a three-stage filtration process, Punica Unfiltered is gently clarified through a single perlite filter, preserving more of the fruit’s natural character. As a result, Punica Unfiltered delivers more pronounced tartness, sweetness, fruitiness, and tannins — a bolder expression of pomegranate. It should be used more sparingly than standard Punica.
We craft both Punica and Punica Unfiltered in limited quantities each harvest. Every bottle of Punica Unfiltered is individually numbered — a testament to its small-batch nature.
F.A.Q.
WHAT IS THE BEST TEXTURE IN NAR EKŞİSİ?
Contrary to the common belief, a thick texture is not a sign of good quality in nar ekşisi. It actually indicates that the product is no longer beneficial for your health. A thick consistency is not an indication of a high density in pomegranate but a sign of the caramelized fruit sugar.
The ideal texture of nar ekşisi (pomegranate extract) should be not too heavy/thick nor too light/thin.
The natural sugar in the pomegranate juice caramelizes and the carcinogen HMF (Hydroxymethyl Furfural) is exposed in excessive quantities due to boiling over high heat for long periods. Researches shows that there is 20-100 % more HMF than the healthy value in pomegranate extracts exposed to high temperatures.
To manufacture Punica in its ideal consistency, we use the method of reduction under vacuum conditions which imitates Urfa’s solar evaporation techniques. With this technique, the pomegranate juice is not exposed to high temperatures and is transformed into pomegranate extract by the most natural process. So, the natural sugar in the fruit does not produce HMF and thus its aroma, its taste of each and every layer, its nutritional values and even its antioxidants remain in its purest form.
WHAT IS HMF? WHY IS IT BAD FOR HEALTH?
HMF (Hydroxymethyl Furfural) is a carcinogen substance, produced in foods containing sugar, as a result of improper thermal treatment at excessive heat. In pomegranate extracts that are produced by prolonged boiling at high temperatures, the natural sugar in the fruit caramelizes and the carcinogen HMF is produced at levels much higher than the health regulations permit.
A low level of HMF is considered a positive criterion of quality.
Choosing the healthiest method had been our priority in the production of Punica. We succeeded in making our nar ekşisi from pure pomegranate juice, without boiling or direct exposure to thermal sources, by heating to the ideal temperature with the help of evaporators. So, as a result, there is no caramelization and no HMF increase during the process.
TRADITIONAL ŞANLIURFA METHOD “SUN ROASTING”
Şanlıurfa is the city in Turkey that gets the most sunlight. Its geographical location gives Şanlıurfa a great advantage in solar energy. This famous Urfa sun, now under research to be used by solar panels, was a factor that shaped Urfa’s culinary culture in the past.
In many regions of Turkey, fruits and vegetables are dried directly under the sun. However, making nar ekşisi under the heat of the sun, almost as hot as the Sahara Desert, is a unique specialty of Şanlıurfa. After the harvest in the months of September-October, the juice of the pomegranates is put in broad and shallow trays and set under Urfa’s autumn sun, that is still hot enough to turn the juice into extract. So, the nar ekşisi of Urfa is made without exposure to high temperatures and boiling.
This healthy gastronomic tradition of Urfa has been our inspiration in producing Punica. We simulated the effect of the sunlight at our production plant. As a result, our precious pomegranates were not exposed to high heat and boiling. Thus, Punica’s flavor and nutritional values were not lost and remained just as they are in the pomegranates themselves.
AMOUNT OF PUNICA FOR IDEAL FLAVOR
It actually varies according to personal preference. As explained in the F.A.Q section Consistency part, since we do not use caramelization techniques, Punica does not have a very thick consistency. But, the intensity of pomegranate in Punica is, actually, much more than usual. So, in order not to suppress the other flavors of your dish, you can use Punica Nar Ekşisi less than the regular products which are found as pomegranate molasses/syrup on the market. You can decide on your ideal amount after a few tastings.
STORAGE/AGING CONDITIONS
You can age your Punica, at home, in a cool and dry environment (8-18 degrees C is ideal) without opening the bottle.
You can also refrigerate it. In that case, it can keep its young form and bright red color for a longer period of time. However, if you keep your pomegranate extract at below 8 degrees C for a long time, the natural fruit sugar in our product crystalizes and comes out. This is because we do not boil our pomegranate juice during production and let it keep its natural form without caramelizing the natural sugar.
After removing the lid, you can keep it according to the indicated storage conditions up to the expiry date on the label.
Punica has a long shelf-life due to the fact that pomegranate has the strongest known antioxidants in its content. So, to protect your health and also ensure a long shelf-life for Punica, we include all the miraculous and natural antioxidants from the pomagranate’s membrane, seeds, arils and inner peel in our extract.
