11th January: Pineapples

On this date in 1813 The first pineapples were planted in Hawaii. Here are some things you didn't know about pineapples.

1. The Latin name for pineapple is Ananas comosus, which comes from the Tupi word for excellent fruit, and comosus means "tufted". The English word pineapple derives from the fact that they resemble pine cones. In fact, pineapple was an old English word for a pine cone. The Spanish word is piña, hence the name Pina Colada for the cocktail. The Hawaiian word for pineapple is ‘halakahiki‘.
2. Despite Mr. Dole and Mr. Del Monte setting up pineapple plantations in the early 20th century, Hawaii isn't the world's top producer of the fruit. In 2013, that was Costa Rica, followed by Philippines and Brazil.
3. The fruit is actually multiple berries, which have fused together. It can take up to three years for a single fruit to mature. Once they are picked, they won't ripen any more, so there's no need to keep them. Once they reach the supermarket, they won't get any riper - so just eat it! A Green pineapple is no less ripe than a Brown one - it was just grown in a different place.
4. Once you've eaten it, the tuft at the top can be planted in soil to grow a new pineapple plant.
5. Commercial pineapples are propagated by suckers - the growers prefer that they are not pollinated, because seeds would ruin the fruit. This is the reason Hawaii has a law banning the import of Hummingbirds.
6. A pineapple plant can produce up to 200 flowers, which vary in colour from lavender to light Purple and Red. There are types of wild pineapple which are pollinated by Bats, and only open their flowers at night.
7. Christine McCallum from Bakewell, Australia holds the record for growing the largest pineapple ever in 2011. It was 32cm long, 66cm in girth and weighed 8.28kg.
8. Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelain which breaks down proteins. It's not harmful to eat, and in fact can be beneficial as anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant, and digestive aid. It could even help prevent tumours from growing. However, this enzyme is the reason some people get a sore mouth when eating raw pineapple, because it is breaking down tissues in the mouth. Also raw pineapples contain crystals of calcium oxalate, which are needle shaped and can be an irritant. Because Bromelain breaks down proteins, pineapple juice is great for tenderising meat.
9. The plant is indigenous to South America and is said to originate from the area between southern Brazil and Paraguay. It spread from there throughout South America, and to the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico, where it was cultivated by the Mayans and Aztecs. Columbus was introduced to the fruit in 1493 on the leeward island of Guadeloupe. He called it piña de Indes, meaning "pine of the Indians", and was the first person to bring a pineapple back to Europe.
10. Because they were expensive to import and difficult to grow (they required a hothouse or a "pineapple stove" as was built in Chelsea Physic Garden in 1723 to keep them warm) pineapples became something of a status symbol in Europe. Rich people built "pineries" to grow them in, and they often wouldn't eat them, but used them as a table decoration at dinner parties to show off. The wealthy would try and outdo each other in the field of pineapple growing. John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore built a hothouse on his estate surmounted by a 14 metre high stone cupola in the shape of the fruit; it is known as the Dunmore pineapple.

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