Pineapple is a delicious, beautiful yellow fruit that tastes good to eat. And, it will allow you to make amazing drinks. You can make more tropical juices by mixing it with limes and orange.
If you are wondering what kind of fruit pineapple is? Or, is pineapple a citrus fruit? If pineapple is a citrus fruit, then how, and if it is not a citrus fruit, then why? If you have such queries about pineapple in your mind, then don’t worry, I am here to answer all these questions. Let’s see.
Is pineapple a citrus fruit?
Pineapple is not a citrus fruit. Although it has almost the same sweet and tart flavor as citrus fruits, yet despite that, pineapple is not a citrus fruit. Let’s know the reason.
Pineapple is not a citrus fruit because it belongs to the Bromeliaceae family, while citrus fruits belong to the Rutaceae family.
Citrus fruits grow on trees, whereas pineapple grows on short plants close to the ground. Another difference is that the citrus fruits grow in a huge quantity on a single tree, but a single pineapple grows on one plant.
Moreover, pineapple is native to South America, while citrus fruits are native to Asia, Australia, and tropical or subtropical regions across the world.
Citrus fruits have few inedible seeds, but the pineapples have many small seeds, which are usually edible.
Pineapples do not grow from seeds, but in contrast to pineapples, Citrus fruits grow into another tree from their seeds.
So, these are all the prime differences between pineapples and citruses. And, I hope you will get your answer to your question.
The Origin of the Name ‘Pineapple’
In early 1600, when Columbus and his crew saw this strangely beautiful fruit, they recognized it as a pine cone. Due to its resemblance to pine cones, this fruit got half of its name.
The colleagues of Christopher Columbus also discovered the point that this tropical fruit tastes as sweet as an apple. And that’s why they started calling it a pineapple.
But with that, another miscellaneous myth came to an end. Pineapple does not belong to the pine tree. And, the only thing these trees have in common is that they are both evergreen trees.
Let’s correct another misconception that pineapple has nothing to do with apples. In short, pineapple is neither a pine nor an apple. It has its own special status in fruits.
The Texture of A Pineapple
Pineapple is a tropical fruit that is unique in its appearance and texture. It has almost 30 to 40 stiff green succulent leaves. At first, a number of separate purple flowers originated that fuse together later. Then, these flowers become fleshy and thus give rise to a delicious and refreshing fruit, which is pineapple.
Thus, pineapple is a single mass of clusters of flowers, and therefore it is also known as a multiple fruit. You may also notice the thorny spikes that surround the whole pineapple fruit.
These spikes are actually petals of each flower that fuse together to produce one single fruit. And, these spikes also protect the fruit from wild animals.
Vitamin C Content in Pineapple
Although pineapple is not a citrus fruit, but it has more vitamin C than citruses per serving. Pineapple is high in vitamin C content, that’s why, people have a confusion like is pineapple a citrus fruit.
In 100 grams of pineapple, there are 48 milligrams of vitamin C are present. While there are 79 milligrams of vitamin C in one cup of pineapple.
The normal size of pineapple is approximately 905 grams. On average, a pineapple has 430 milligrams of vitamin C.
However, an adult requires 70 to 90 milligrams of vitamin C per day. So, the consumption of pineapple can fulfill the daily requirement of vitamin C of an individual.
Vitamin C has numerous health benefits in our body. For instance, vitamin C is necessary for the growth and metabolism of an individual. It repairs the body tissues and plays its role in the healing of wounds.
In addition, it is an antioxidant that prevents the body from the toxic effects of free radicals. Also, it boosts the immune system and plays a significant role in the absorption of iron.
So, the consumption of pineapple is a great way to meet all the nutritional requirements of your body.
What Does Pineapple Taste Like?
When Columbus’s crew ate the fruit, it tasted like an apple. That’s why they used apples with the name pineapple. And today, we know that the taste of this fruit is very different from the apple.
In fact, this fruit has its own distinctive taste. The taste of pineapple is a fusion of sweet and little bit citrus flavors. So, its fruity and refreshing taste is really amazing to eat. Yet, this flavor is completely different from apples and other citrus fruits.
The taste of ripe pineapples is incredibly sweet and fruity in which tanginess is almost negligible. In contrast, an unripe pineapple is sour in taste which is not good to eat.
Is Pineapple A Berry?
You may wonder that what kind of fruit a pineapple is? Or, is pineapple a berry? And, what pineapple is, if it is not a citrus fruit or a pine tree or an apple.
Well, pineapple is not a single berry. In fact, it is a fusion of a bunch of berries. Therefore, it is also known as a multiple fruit.
In the beginning, there is a cluster of individual flowers. Each flower is considered as a single berry. But later on, all these separate berries fuse together to form a single mass, which is a pineapple.
So, we can’t say that pineapple is a single berry because it is a bunch of numerous berries.
Similarities Between Pineapple and Citrus Fruits
I already answer that question, is pineapple a citrus fruit? And, you know that the pineapple is not a citrus fruit. But despite that, it has some similarities to citruses. Let’s reveal all these similarities.
Pineapple and citrus fruits are both flowering plants. Both of them are tropical plants and grow well in warm and humid climates.
In addition, there is a great similarity between their taste and flavors. Pineapple has a sweet and refreshing taste with a punch of tanginess, just like citruses.
Moreover, both are good sources of vitamin C. And, due to their dynamic taste, pineapples are widely used in food recipes, especially in baking like citrus fruits.
Due to these similarities between pineapples and citruses, many people think of questions like, is pineapple a citrus fruit? But, pineapple is not a citrus fruit despite all these similarities.
When is pineapple in season?
Now, you may wonder about when is pineapple in season. So, you can enjoy the natural flavor of ripe pineapples.
Typically, pineapples are available round the year. However the peak season of their availability is from March to July. Thus, you would be able to enjoy this exotic and refreshing fruit in the summer months.
The natural pineapple season is the summer months, but the off-season growth of pineapples is also possible. For this purpose, growers use different chemicals and hormones to initiate the fruiting.
A huge quantity of pineapples is imported from China, Japan, Mexico, and Asian countries. And, this import makes sure the availability of pineapples throughout the year.
How to Tell If A Pineapple Is Ripe
Here’s a simple way of finding out a ripe pineapple. And, you can use this method to check almost all fruits.
You will need to smell the pineapple base. If it is ripped, your nose will be filled with a sweet tropical scent. However, if the pineapple is still under-ripe, you will not smell anything. And if the pineapple is over-ripe, its aroma and taste will be sour and very offensive.
Moreover, this is not the only way to check for ripe pineapples. There are several other ways you can check the ripe pineapples.
If you can get fresh pineapple from your nearest grocery store and want to check if it is ripe or not, then try this method.
Simply pull the central leaf out of their green leaves. If this comes out easy, you know your pineapple is ripe. And, if it doesn’t come out easily, you don’t need to jerk it off because it is not yet edible.
Types of Pineapple
There are numerous varieties of pineapples that differ from one another in many ways. All these varieties are grown in different countries across the world.
But, the most popular types of pineapples are Queen Pineapples, Abacaxi pineapples, Cayenne pineapples, and Red Spanish pineapples.
Queen Pineapple
The smaller version of regular pineapple is a queen pineapple. Queen pineapples are smaller in size than ordinary pineapples. But, this variety of pineapple is sweeter in its taste and aroma.
Queen pineapples are typically cultivated in South Africa and Australia. Moreover, their dark-yellow color and small core are other unique features of these pineapples.
Queen pineapples are resistant to several diseases and grow in a warm climate. Therefore, it is the best type of pineapple in the world for cultivation.
The peak season of this pineapple is from December to February. But, these are not ideal for a long time storage. Thus, people mostly prefer to consume fresh queen pineapples.
Abacaxi Pineapple
White Abacaxi or Abacaxi pineapple is native to Florida and Brazil. Typically, it is taller and oblong than normal pineapple. The Abacaxi plant is spiny as well as resistant to several diseases.
It has bluish-green leaves and juicy flesh. The flesh color may be pale yellow or white. In addition to ordinary pineapples, Abacaxi pineapple is sweeter and fragrant.
Although, Abacaxi pineapple is one of the delicious varieties of pineapples, but it is not ideal for shipment due to its fragility.
Usually, the peak season of Abacaxi pineapple is in the summer months. So, you can enjoy this exotic version of pineapple in the summer season.
Cayenne Pineapple
The smooth cayenne pineapple is native to Hawaii. Unlike other varieties of pineapples, cayenne pineapple is a spine-free pineapple. And, you can also grow this variety in your home garden.
Cayenne pineapples have juicy yellow flesh, sweeter, juicier, and refreshing than other types of pineapples.
Interestingly, cayenne pineapples are available round the year and, it is readily available in the market. Thus, you can enjoy this delicious fruit when you want.
Red Spanish Pineapple
Red Spanish pineapple is a variety of pineapple that is native to Mexico and Central America. Also, it is a widely cultivated variety of pineapples.
Red Spanish pineapple is unique because of its stretchy, long, and spiny leaves. Its fruit is oval-shaped with a firm texture and having light yellow juicy sweet pulp.
Red Spanish pineapple is very adaptable to climate conditions and thus widely cultivated. The peak season of Red Spanish pineapple is from February to July.
Serving Styles of Pineapple
You can serve this delicious fruit in various different styles. These will not only delight you but also excite your family members.
The most common serving styles of pineapple are pineapple spears, pineapple slices, crushed pineapples, and pineapple chunks.
Pineapple Spears:
Now, serve this luscious exotic fruit in a different style. Pineapple spear is a most attractive and unique way to serve pineapples.
Simply you have to cut the fleshy meat of pineapple lengthwise, and you will get pineapple spears. Also, you can store pineapple in the form of spears.
Pineapple Slices:
Mostly, pineapple is served in the style of pineapple slices. Usually, canned pineapple is available in the bakeries, which are also in the form of slices.
When you cut a pineapple widthwise, you obtain pineapple slices. And, you can get these slices of size of your preference.
Crushed Pineapple:
Usually, crushed pineapple is used in various food recipes. And, you can also make crushed pineapple through any gadget or food processor in your home kitchen.
You can use it in shakes, muffins, and bread pudding. In addition, you can prepare fruit jam by using these crushed pineapples. Moreover, you can use it as a fruit topping of cheesecakes.
Pineapple Chunks:
Another serving style of pineapple is the pineapple chunks. Pineapple chunks are bigger than crushed pineapples and have a more defined size.
Typically, pineapple chunks are used in fruit salads and other food recipes. Although, it is the best serving idea of pineapple along with other fruits.
What You Can Do Different with Pineapple
Even pineapple is not a citrus fruit, but still, you can enjoy this exotic fruit in various ways. Pineapple is popular in making fruit jams, shakes, desserts, and other sweet treats.
Here, I have got some wonderful ideas for using pineapple in your food dishes. From now, use pineapple in a different way. Let’s see.
Use Pineapple as A Topping of Desserts
Pineapple is a sweet and juicy fruit that goes great in sweet treats like desserts, pies, puddings, and cakes.
So, you can use pineapple as a fruity topping for desserts. As a topping, you can use either crushed pineapples or pineapple jam.
Many people use pineapple as a topping of cupcakes and cheesecakes. And, it delights them a lot. Also, it is a smart way to use pineapple in your food dishes.
Use Pineapple in Savory Foods
Besides sweet dishes, pineapples also go well in savory food recipes. The refreshing sweet taste of pineapples adds a new delicious touch to savory recipes.
So, you can use pineapple in salsa, grilled chicken or salmon, pork, and sandwiches. In addition, you can serve meatballs, fried rice, and chicken skewers with pineapple salsa. And, it will surely delight you.
Use Pineapple in Salads
Pineapple salad is the best way to eat pineapples. It not only goes well in fruit salads but also in vegetable salads. Additionally, pineapple enhances the overall flavor of salad, and it tastes good to eat.
In salads, you can either use crushed pineapples or chunks of pineapple. Both will surely refresh and delight you.
Final Thoughts About Is Pineapple A Citrus Fruit
Is pineapple a citrus fruit? No, pineapple is not a citrus fruit because it is a member of the Bromeliaceae family, while citrus fruits belong to the Rutaceae family. However, there are also some similarities between pineapples and citruses. And that’s why, sometimes people think of questions like is pineapple a citrus fruit?
The climate conditions, high vitamin C content, and taste of pineapple is similar to citrus fruits. Despite that, pineapple is not a citrus fruit.