“Who lived in a pineapple under the sea?”
“SpongeBob Square Pants!”
Every 90’s child’s theme song for life, and the perfect line to start off today’s article. Why you ask? Are we talking about square- shaped sea sponges today? No don’t be silly. We are talking about the sunshine of nature, the apple of the pine and the most model-worthy fruit of all time; the pineapple!
Yesterday I visited the largest standing pineapple in the whole world. In Bathurst, South Africa, stands a pineapple so tall that the head of leaves seem to be playfully poking the grey clouds that linger tauntingly above it. At 16.7 meters high, this artificial pineapple pays homage to the prickly fruit that grows so well in this vintage town. Being constructed between 1990 and 1992, this overgrown pineapple is a replica of the Big Pineapple found in the Sunshine Coast of Australia. Within the giant pineapple stands a museum portraying the process of the life of a pineapple, from the moment the seed is planted to the moment this nutritious fruit is harvested. Now, many of you out there must be thinking, “wow, you must be extremely passionate about pineapples to build a museum for it!” And to be very honest, that was my exact thought as well! Although pineapples are amusing to look at, having made various of front cover photographs on Tumblr and finding its way to starring as my logo for HazelEyes (watch out Cara Delevigne, the pineapple is catching up) it is not a fruit that you would find in my house. However, here are ten interesting facts about pineapples that could bring some fruity flavor to your Tuesday!
1. Each pineapple plant only produces one pineapple every year.
2. A pineapple plant can fruit for up to 50 years in the wild.
3. The word “pineapple” was first used in 1398, referencing to the Spanish word “piña” which means pine cone.
4. A pineapple, strictly speaking, is not necessarily a fruit; it is 100-200 fruitlets all fused together.
5. Sailors would wash their pineapples down with rum so that they could eat them to avoid the deadly scurvy.
6. Although pineapples are predominately eaten, they are also used to make wine. Must be sweet!
7. In Hawaii, the pineapple has been introduced into the local jargon. When it is raining, the locals refer to it as “pineapple juice.”
8. In 1493, famous explorer Christopher Columbus found pineapples on Guadeloupe Island in the Caribbean.
9. A pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain which helps with arthritis pain by reducing inflammation. It is also a good source of Vitamin C, helping with colds and the immune system.
10. Pineapples grow very slowly and can take up to two years to reach full size.
A home to a square-shaped sea sponge and a cure for colds, the pineapple proves to be queen of the fruit. With its beautiful set of green hair and its mellow yellow color, the beauty of the pineapple will be one that lives on forever. Whether you are sitting by your pool on a hot summers day or walking aside the crystal clear ocean on an island very far away, a pineapple is a refreshing and nutritious fruit that proves to have a variety of benefits for your body. Oh, and it is great for making piña coladas!
“If you love piña coladas, or getting caught in the rain…”
Ella 