The Pineapple, scientifically known as Ananas Comosus, is a tropical plant that bears edible and delicious fruits. This cultivar is native to South America and named after its similarity to a pinecone. It is a shallow rooted plant that can grow from two to four feet tall. Pineapple had been commercially grown in various tropical plantations and greenhouses since the 1820s. Thus, known to be the third most dominant tropical fruit in global production. The prime producer of the pineapples in the 20th century was Hawaii, but was later on dominated by Brazil, Costa Rica, and some countries in Southeast Asia like the Philippines. They are best grown in a cold temperature around 60-75 degrees.
Health Benefits
Pineapples which are used as pizza toppings, are cultivars loaded with nutrients, enzymes, and antioxidants. These fruits also provide impressive health benefits such as improving digestion, enhancing immunity, fighting oxidative stress, and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. These are just the few of the many reasons why pineapples are known to be everyone’s favorite fruit.
There are different types of pineapple that are classified into classes. These groups vary according to texture; color, shape, and size. They also differ in terms of fiber content, sweetness, and acidity. Over dozens types of pineapples are grown all over the world, we will name some of these varieties.
Different Types of Pineapple
Smooth Cayenne Pineapples
This type of pineapple grown in Hawaii has a high acid and sugar content. Smooth cayennes are known for its tangy and naturally sweet golden yellow color flesh. A single smooth cayenne typically weighs around four to ten pounds. Giant Kew, St. Michael, and Hilo are some of the most popular types of Smooth Cayennes. Compared to other classes, these types of pineapples are larger, sweeter, and juicier.
Abacaxi Pineapples
These are known to be the most delicious pineapple fruits and notable crops grown in Brazil. Abacaxi pineapples have a very sweet taste, with a tender, juicy, and glassy color flesh. These pineapples are spiny, tall, oblong-shaped, and have an average weight of two to eleven pounds. These pineapples are also hard to ship because of its fragility. Sugarloaf, Montufar, Antigua Black, and White Kauai are among the Abacaxi varieties.
Queen Pineapples
Also known as Common Rough, are the pineapples considered as the sweetest variety. These are dark-yellow small core queen. Queen pineapple has a yellowish flesh that is sweet, tender, and juicy. They can be eaten fresh or serve as a table fruit. These dwarf pineapples are grown in countries like South Africa and Australia. They are best eaten fresh. MacGregor, Natal Queen, and Ripley are some popular varieties of Queen Pineapples. Queen Pineapple plants are more tolerant in cold temperatures.
Red Spanish Pineapples
These types of pineapples are commonly grown in Carribean countries like Mexico, Puerto Rico, Philippines, and Venezuela. Their leaves are dark green and sturdy. They are aromatic pineapples with a high fibrous and yellow flesh. This pineapple family includes Singapore Red, Valera, Monte Oscuro, and Valera.
Pernambuco Pineapples
This cultivar is mostly grown in the north east of Brazil. It has a mild taste with tender, juicy, and white flesh. It is an oblong-shaped fruit with lots of spikes on its skin. Pernambuco has long, spiny and wide leaves.
Panare Pineapples
It is a cultivar named after a tribe of Indians who grew the plant in Venezuela. The plant bears a bottle-shaped and orange-colored fruit which has a deep yellow, slightly fragrant, less fibrous flesh with a small core.
Brecheche Pineapples
These pineapples are usually small in size. The outside grind is color olive and is completely spike free. The fruits are cylindrical in shape. Its flesh is color yellow, fragrant, and a small juicy core. Brecheche is commonly grown in Southern Venezuela.
Jewel Pineapples
Is a pink-glow pineapple. Compared to traditional pineapples, Jewel pineapples are juicer and sweeter. The Jewel pineapple plants are grown in the wilderness of Costa Rica.
Mordilona Pineapples
These pineapples are large in size, have a yellow orange grind, and are cylindrical in shape. Mordilona pineapples varieties have sweet and juicy cream-colored flesh. They are commonly grown in the northeastern Andes of Colombia and Venezuela.
Sugar Loaf Pineapple
A type of Smooth Cayenne pineapple known as Pan de Azucar or Kona Sugarloaf, grown by south American. These pineapple varieties are also called as Brazillian White pineapples, a pineapple with high sugar content and zero acidity. It has a white flesh with a soft edible core.