How much do you know about Hawaiian pineapples?
Hawaii is a place known for many reasons, including its food and ... FRUITS!
If you have been to Hawaii before, you may know about the many Hawaiian fruits including passionfruits, wine grapes, lychee, jaboticaba, mango, papaya... the list can be endless. And you might also know that they have much to do with Hawaiian food. They are always, or most of the time the protagonists in a Hawaiian diet. Well, today we are going to have a look at this unique and popular Hawaiian pineapple, a symbol of hospitality in American traditions.
Though being a quite popular fruit in Hawaii, it is not a "native" Hawaiian fruit as many would think. Pineapples were first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493 in Caribbean. He later called it the "Pine of the Indies" as they looked very much like a pine cone. It was said that in order to make the fruits more appealing, he added one more word to the name, "apple". Hence the name "pineapple". This is the etymological history of pineapples.
The first pineapples were first planted in the Hawaiian Islands in 1813. It was the Dole Company which began growing pineapples in 1901 that made Hawaiian pineapples well-known. There are mainly 3 types of pineapples which you can find in Hawaii: Hilo, Kona sugarloaf, and Smooth Cayenne. The varieties which are served by most restaurants in Hawaii are Hilo and Smooth Cayene. Kona sugarloaf is sold inexpensively in Hawaii.
Here are some fun facts about growing pineapples in Hawaii. A pineapple plant normally takes about 20 months to produce the first fruit. Also, in Hawaii, all pineapples are planted and also harvested by hands (no machines at all!). Around 28,000 pineapple plants can be grown in an acre of land. The reason that pineapples grow so well in Hawaii is because of its soil, which is rich in iron. That is the reason for the red colour of the soil in most parts of Hawaii.
Well, pineapples do also play a main role in Hawaiian recipes. It is used in making chicken kabobs, honey burgers, banana nut bread, beef teriyaki and many other delicious food. Besides, Hawaiians also use pineapples in making beverages such as Blue Hawaiian, lemonade, pineapple punch and so forth.
Apart from being a good ingredient for various delicious Hawaiian food, pineapples are also famous for their nutritional benefits. the Bromelain enzyme (which can be found in the stem or core) can help to improve the digestive processes. It is also rich in Vitamin C, B1 and B6; antioxidants; manganese and Beta-Carotene. Like most other fruits too, pineapples are also high in fiber, which is essential in helping us to avoid constipation. Therefore, it is pretty obvious that just eating a few slices of pineapples every day can bring us many benefits. In addition, pineapples are also low in calories, saturated fats and cholesterol. So it is one of the best food for losing weight too.
So, what are you waiting for? Eat your pineapple today!
Mahalo and do something nice for someone today....spread the Aloha Spirit!
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Mahalo for reading. Please share the Aloha Spirit and do something nice for someone today. We welcome your comments and feedback. This blog is brought to you by Kapo Trading Company -- with over 3000 fun, unique and authentic Hawaiian items, we deliver Hawaii to you!
