This kind of taste doesn’t just grow on trees. Actually, it grows in the ground. And it takes years. 

Originally from South America, pineapples are so called because they look a lot like pine cones as they grow, with hundreds of tiny fruitlets fusing together to make the strange-looking fruit. They are harvested ripe, so look for pineapples that haven’t travelled too far. (We get ours from Costa Rica.) Generally pineapple plants grow for two to three years before producing a single pineapple. Once mature, the plants produce one pineapple at a time. Quite a long process, but totally worth it for a taste of that sweet tropical fruit.

The perfect pineapple should:

• Have a dry exterior
• Be heavy for its size
• have dark green leaves
• Smell distinctly sweet, particularly at the base

To eat, cut off the crown and base, then slice off the skin carefully so you don’t lose much of the tangy flesh. The core is edible, but you can quarter the fruit and remove it if you prefer. If you fancy yourself a gardener, you can even plant the crown and grow your own pineapple. If you can wait a few years, that is. 

In the meantime, try our delicious pineapple upside-down cake recipe!