2018-05-02 Wed

We all love those juicy and healthy pineapples don’t we?

Pineapple or Ananas is a fruit that has been enjoyed by people all over the world for thousands of years. So, let’s learn today some interesting facts about the pineapple.

Pineapples are member of the bromeliad family and of the few bromeliads to produce edible fruit. The fruit actually made of many individual berries that fuse together around a central core. Each pineapple scale is an individual berry.

Did you know that pineapples were named after pinecones? The Spanish called pineapple the ‘Pine of the Indies’ because they were both hard and spiky. There are more than 30 different types of pineapples, each with its own taste and appearance. These varieties are grouped into four groups: Queen, Red Spanish, Abacaxi and Smooth Cayenne.

The best environments for pineapples to grow are the warm areas. Therefore, pineapples grow in tropical and sub tropical regions. Originally, pineapple grew in South America, but most of them grow in Southeast Asia today, particularly Thailand, which produces the most pineapples worldwide. Hawai in Costa Rica are also known for growing some of the freshest pineapple in the world.

In 2016, Costa Rica, Brazil, and the Philippines accounted for nearly one-third of the world’s production of Pineapples.

Pineapples’ nutritional benefits are as fascinating as their anatomy. Pineapples contain high amounts of vitamin C and manganese. These tropical treats are also a good way to get important dietary fiber and bromelain (an enzyme).

There are many countries who issued postage stamps depicting this yummy fruit!

Image Courtesy: Google Images