Maadhulai, anar in Hindi and dadima in Sanskrit, is pomegranate, a spiny shrub from Iran and the Caucasus whose fruit is packed with juicy red seed coats called arils. Maharashtra grows most of India’s pomegranates, and Solapur pomegranate holds a geographical indication. Dried sour seeds of wild Himalayan pomegranate, anardana, flavour chutneys and chole. The rind is rich in tannins.
- Botanical name
- Punica granatum L.
- Family
- Lythraceae
- Tamil
- Maadhulai
- Hindi
- Anar
- Sanskrit
- Dāḍima
- Parts used
- Fruit arils, Rind, Sometimes flower and bark
- Habit
- Shrub or small tree grown for its jewel-like seeds
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Maadhulai
It is a deciduous shrub or small tree, usually two to five metres, often with spiny branches.
The leaves are narrow, glossy and opposite.
The flowers are bright orange-red, with crumpled petals inside a thick, fleshy, crown-shaped calyx.
The fruit is round, with a leathery red or yellow rind and a crown at the tip.
Inside, many seeds sit in juicy red or pink arils divided by bitter white membranes.
Traditional use of Maadhulai
Kitchen
Fresh arils are eaten, juiced, and scattered over raita and chaat.
Indian food practice
Kitchen
Anardana, dried sour seeds, is ground into chutneys and chole masala.
North Indian food practice
Ayurveda
Dadima rind and flowers are used in Ayurveda for diarrhoea.
Ayurvedic practice
Modern notes on Maadhulai
The rind and juice are rich in punicalagins and other tannins.
Bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas devastated Indian pomegranate orchards in the 2000s.
Pomegranate juice may interact with some medicines, as grapefruit does, though the evidence is weaker.
Maadhulai safety
Pomegranate is a safe fruit. Ask a pharmacist before drinking large amounts of juice with regular medicines. Rind preparations should not be taken in large doses.
Ecology and sourcing
It is native to Iran and the Caucasus and was spread early to India and the Mediterranean.
Bees and sunbirds visit its flowers.
It tolerates drought and heat.
Related plants
Also in Lythraceae
Questions about Maadhulai
What are arils?
The juicy seed coats that are eaten.
What is anardana?
Dried sour pomegranate seeds used as a spice.
Where is pomegranate grown in India?
Mainly Maharashtra.
How do I remove the arils easily?
Cut the fruit, then tap the back with a spoon over a bowl of water.
Is the rind useful?
It is rich in tannins and used as a dye and in Ayurveda.
Sources
- Punica granatum L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q13188 (Punica granatum)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.