Did You Know About What is pineapple?

The first encounter between a European and a pineapple occurred in November 1493 when Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the region of the Caribbean, lowered anchor in a cove off the lush volcanic island of Guadeloupe, and went ashore to inspect a deserted Carib village. There, amidst parrot-flecked jungle foliage and wooden pillars spiraled with serpent carvings, his crew came upon cook pots filled with human body parts. Nearby were piles of freshly gathered vegetables and fruits, including pineapples. The European sailors ate, enjoyed and recorded the curious new fruit which had an abrasive, segmented exterior like a pine cone and a firm interior pulp like an apple. 

The Spaniards spread the pineapple to nearly all tropical countries, including South Asian countries. It quickly became established in these countries and so widespread that it was considered indigenous. It was introduced into Thailand probably by the Portuguese during the reign of King Narai the Great of Ayutthaya during 1670-1700.

The generic name for pineapple, "Ananas" was derived from an Indian name, "Nana," meaning fragrance. The first explorers thought the fruit resembled a pinecone and it became known as the "Pine of the Indies." "Apple" was added by the English to associate it with juicy delectable fruits.

In the court of King Narai, when pineapple was presented to the King, he shared it with his royal servant. After tasting the fruit, the royal servant cried out in surprise… สรรพรส (sap-pa-ros to mean all complete flavors). Later, it phonetically deviated to ‘สับปะรด (sapparod)’ that became the generic name for pineapple in Thai until today.

In the 17th century pineapple was cultivated in houses in Europe as a highly prized and rare fruit. Used by the wealthy to adorn banquet tables, the pineapple soon became a subtle symbol of elite social standing and hospitality. Utilized by English political caricaturists during the Napoleonic Wars to symbolize high living and opulence, pineapple art motifs were carried to the New World by the Colonists to perpetuate the "friendship" and "welcome" image retained today." 

In Asian communities, the pineapple is used as a decorative item during Chinese New Year to signify wealth … represented by its golden yellow color.

Smooth Cayenne- the main variety available in Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia with its succulent, juicy and sweet flesh, it is consumed around the world mostly as fresh cut fruit or canned.

Queen (or Queen Victoria) a crunchier and more aromatic variety found in Malaysia, China, and Vietnam. In Thailand, this is สับปะรดภูเก็ต in the South of Thailand and ภูแล in the North.

White Perola Originally from Brazil, it is unusually sweet with a strong fragrance and pearly white pulp.

Pineapple is a tropical fruit that is grown in countries near the equator. While many have seen and eaten fruits, many may wonder if pineapples actually grow on trees. Actually, to my surprise, a few of my Thai friends who grew up in Thailand always believed pineapples grew on trees until I took them to a pineapple plantation many years ago.

The pineapple is a herbaceous perennial which grows to about 1.0 metre tall in pineapple fields in Thailand, although sometimes it can be taller. In appearance, the plant itself has a short, stocky stem with tough, waxy leaves.

Red pineapple flowers and tiny pineapple fruits add interesting and decorative designs in flower arrangement that will last for long time… 

Put it on the grill, bake it in the oven, boil it in curry, stir-fry it in a pan, blend it in a drink and more… It is one of the very few fruits that can be used in savoury dishes of various cuisines around the world or as an ingredient in delicious desserts or just eaten as a healthy and nutritious fruit. Many Thai royal recipes use pineapple as an ingredient, and many have been lost through time. Those that survived are hardly known to the younger generation, such as Kanomjeen SaoNam or Mahor (galloping horse). It is time to reacquaint ourselves with these summer treats. 

Check out our latest recipes using pineapple, or create your own recipes with this delicious fruit.

Bromelain was originally only extracted from Hawaiian pineapple stems. It has been used commercially as a meat tenderizing enzyme and nutraceutical which aids digestion. Furthermore, as this extract is natural, it therefore has no side effects to the consumer.