THE PINEAPPLE

The pineapple is a delicious fruit which is popular among many. It has a unique shape and its scientific name is Ananas comosus. This tropical fruit originated in South American countries of Paraguay and Brazil. From South America, the fruit was introduced to the Philippines by the Spanish and then throughout the world including India and Sri Lanka.

The plant of the pineapple is a short shrub-like one which has long sword-like leaves. An interesting fact about the pineapple is that it is a combination of little fruits created by close to 200 flowers. That means, one pineapple is a fused collection of a number of berries. Pineapple is pollinated by bats at night and hummingbirds during the day in the wild. In cultivation lands, farmers artificially pollinate pineapple flowers.

Though it is a fruit, the pineapple is also commonly used in a variety of dishes, and is also used as a popular snack. Pineapple is also used to garnish dishes and also in making pizza. Pineapple curry, chutney and juice are popular in Sri Lanka. During festivals, vendors can be seen selling cut pieces of raw pineapples with a little bit of salt and chilli powder or pepper powder added.

Costa Rica, Brazil, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and India are the largest pineapple producers of the world. Hawaii is famous for its pineapple – as a result, most pineapple included foods are referred to as Hawaiian, like Hawaiian pizza. In the Philippines, pineapple leaves are used to create a fibre from which they make clothes and wallpaper. Pineapple is a rich source of manganese and vitamin C. Always remember that, once you pluck a pineapple it won’t ripen!