The 3 Best Varieties of Pineapple there are
Pineapple is a tropical fruit of excellent flavor and great properties, rich in potassium and low in calories; in addition, there is a great variety of pineapples in the world and despite being very similar, you can find some with a more exquisite and sweet taste than others, and this time we will talk about the 3 best varieties of pineapple that you can find in the world.
Pineapple or Pineapple Comosus, is so called because of its similarity to pine cones. It is the fruit of a plant native to South America, known as pineapple. In fact, the Portuguese still know it by this name, which in the indigenous language means “excellent fruit”.
Pineapple is a compound fruit, formed by the union of between 100 and 200 flowers spirally placed around a fleshy axis.
This incredible fruit can be found in different countries in the tropics, especially in the southern hemisphere. Among them, we will highlight for their major contributions to the national market within the Market Network, Ivory Coast and Costa Rica, being Costa Rica the main producer in the world, handling for the year 2016 almost 50% of the world export of this fruit; and, according to the Foreign Trade Promoter of Costa Rica (PROCOMER, 2015), Costa Rican pineapple is listed as “the best in the world”. Let’s take a look at the 3 best pineapple varieties available.
1. MD2 Golden Variety
The MD2 Pineapple is a hybrid that was developed to satisfy a market in search of exceptional sweetness, as well as uniformity and consistency in size and maturity.
The MD2 variety is recognized worldwide for its great aroma and exquisite flavor. It contains twice as much vitamin C as other pineapple species and B vitamins. It is rich in sugars and fiber and has a high water content.
It was introduced in 1996, since then the interest in this fruit has grown enormously and its demand has tripled since it was proven that this hybrid provides a great contribution of carbohydrates and an enzyme that helps the digestion of proteins. Despite its sweet taste, its caloric value is moderate.
Characteristics
- The golden color of its outer bark
- It has a more symmetrical and uniform shape, oval and thick, approximately 30 cm long and 15 cm in diameter, being considered a medium-sized pineapple.
- The yellow to white flesh is fleshy, aromatic, juicy and sweet, and inside there is a tough fibrous stem that runs from the crown to the pedicle.
- Its average weight is between 1.5kg and 2.2kg.
- Se caracteriza por su exótico sabor tropical y bajo nivel de acidez.
- It has an enviable amount of sweetness, having an average of 16º Brix and in some cases, it can even exceed it.
- MD2 pineapple has five times more ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) content than the other varieties
- Bromelain enzymes in pineapple have an anti-inflammatory effect that helps in cases of arthritis, gout, sore throat or acute sinusitis and accelerates the healing process of wounds caused in accidents or surgeries.
2. Red Spanish Variety
The Red Spanish pineapple is a popular variety of pineapple, produced mainly in Venezuela and other countries in the Caribbean region, such as Cuba, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
This fruit is native to South America, but the exact location is not known, however, it is presumed that it comes from the area where the current Paraguay, northern Argentina and southern Brazil are located.
Its name comes from the English name Red Spanish, which refers to its striking crimson tones and its Hispanic origin. In addition, this variety of pineapple is also known by other names such as Black Spanish, Key Largo, Cubana and Cumanesa.
Characteristics
- They have a characteristic orange-red exterior color (hence the name), as well as a barrel shape with flat and very well defined "eyes" in the form of scales, with a tiny rectangular leaf, some of them with a reddish central edge.
- It is medium-sized, conical and oval in shape, measuring about 30 cm in length.
- The pulp has a pale yellow almost white color.
- Its average weight is between 1.2kg and 2kg.
- It contains a moderate amount of sugars (between 12 and 14 degrees Brix) and low acidity.
3. Cayenne Lisse Variety
The Smooth Cayenne Pineapple, also known as Tropical Pineapple or American Pineapple, is a variety of pineapple widely cultivated worldwide and goes straight to the market for its good industrial qualities. It is widely used in slices for canning.
By the year 1819, Perrottet took the pineapple to French Guyana and from there it was distributed to the rest of the tropical regions of the world, this pineapple is known as “Smooth Cayenne” which ruled the world markets until 2004.
Undoubtedly a rich and nutritious fruit, providing 55 kcal per 100 g, a good part of the recommended daily amount of vitamins C, as well as vitamins B1 and B2.
Characteristics
- The exterior of the fruit is dark yellowish orange in color and has 60-80 leaves and no thorns.
- The "eyes" of the fruit are small and superficial. This facilitates the industrialization of the fruit in the form of slices, resulting in a low percentage of waste.
- It is cylindrical in shape and has a medium size, measuring between 35 cm and 39 cm in length.
- The flesh is pale yellow, soft and with a thin "heart" or central axis.
- Its average weight is between 1.5kg and 2kg.
- Contains a moderate amount of sugars (±10º Brix).
Is the Pineapple good for your health?
Since 89% of pineapple is water, and the rest is natural fruit sugars and fiber, it can be considered a beneficial food for health.
In addition, this powerful fruit is a source of vitamins and minerals that our body needs. It contains vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, manganese, folic acid, is diuretic and low in calories.
It is even widely recommended for weight loss or as a healthy dessert.
Pineapple also has other medicinal properties that help various ailments, such as:
- Delays aging because it has a good amount of antioxidants, essential to strengthen the immune system.
- To treat the symptoms of bronchitis and sinusitis due to its rich content of vitamin C, B and folic acid.
- Natural anti-inflammatory, which helps in conditions such as arthritis, acute sinusitis, abdominal inflammation and sore throat.
- Promotes skin healing processes.
- Pineapple is a fruit that is characterized by improving digestive functions, it also inhibits the production of intestinal microorganisms and can be used in treatments for parasites.
- It facilitates the absorption of iron, making it a perfect ally for people suffering from anemia.
- It helps to balance blood glucose levels, while being satiating.
