The Pineapple

The grocery store, with tight isles and an overwhelming display of food and goods, we don’t even think twice about what surrounds us. With one thought, get in, get out, we venture our way into the chaos, scratching off what's on our list; bananas, lettuce, tomatoes, pineapple… It is easy to believe that these types of foods have always been accessible to us, but the truth is, every fruit and vegetable has a history and today we are here to talk about the infamous pineapple.

Pineapples, king-like in appearance, with a golden tint and a crown of green, sour to taste, but sweet overall, is, if not the best fruit. But how did it arrive on our local rural grocery store shelf?

The History and Symbolism of the Pineapple

The pineapple far exceeds any European settler, but as history always proves, colonialism takes something and runs with it. Before it was presented to the kings of Europe, the pineapple grew in South America, originally evolving in the inland areas of what is now Brazil and Paraguay. The pineapple soon found a new home, the Caribbean. The presence of pineapples on Caribbean islands was not a natural event, but rather the result of centuries of native migration and commerce. Accomplished navigators, traded across a vast expanse of tropical oceans, seas and river systems. It was not long after the natives settled in the Caribbean, that the Europeans arrived. Among the first to pillage and consume native culture was Christopher Columbus. In his writings of his second journey to the Caribbean, Columbus and his men wrote about a fruit that looked like a pinecone, yet something of bearable taste. So off he went, taking the fruit back to a new Europe, in hopes to bring some taste. The Renaissance Europe to which Columbus returned with his discoveries was a civilization largely bereft of common sweets. Sugar refined from cane was a rare commodity imported at great cost from the middle east and Asia. Fresh fruit was also a rare item; so when the pineapple came, it was revolutionary.

As the pineapple was passed around the courts of Europe, its popularity only grew. For decades royal gardeners would try to perfect their soil to host the gold gemmed fruit, finding failure more often than success. While the Europeans decorated their homes with curtains, garbs, and furniture with embroidered pineapples, the natives were tending the fields overseas to fulfill the desires of the colonists. Shifting focus from the 1600's Europe to the Americas, the pineapple became a staple of modesty and home. The colonies were then a land of small, primitive towns and settlements where homes served as the hubs of most community activity. Visiting someone's home was the primary means of entertainment and cultural intercourse. The pineapple encompassed the concept of hospitality, warmth, and style, providing good health and prosperity. Sound familiar? This practice still happens in today’s society, just maybe with not as much historical significance.

This pineapple mirror hangs next to our front door to show hospitality and welcome travelers to their vacation home!

The Bahamas and the Pineapple

Without the Bahamas, the pineapple would not be the fruit it is today. In fact, Eleuthera, was the first Bahama island to be settled by Europeans, cultivating some of the oldest pineapple fields in the Caribbean. These days, pineapples are still Eleuthera's quintessential trademark, which is celebrated every summer with the Pineapple Festival.

Special people like Mrs. Diane Thompson or “Lady Di” help embrace the tradition of the pineapple in the Bahamas. Lady Di is one of the oldest pineapple farmers in the Bahamas. Her fields stretch far and wide, supplying the local demand for the delicious pineapple. She offers tours of her crops and allows tourists to enjoy fresh pineapples straight from the earth.

How to Celebrate the Pineapple

Here are some ways to celebrate the Bahamas through the means of the pineapple:

Bahamians prepare the pineapple fruit in a variety of ways, ranging from tarts and upside-down cake to drinks - including pineapple-flavoured rum. Many of the special Bahamian cocktails you will find in the bahamas contain pineapple rum or pineapple juice. Local stores sell their treats for locals and travellers alike, they even recommend some famous cocktail recipes!

Bahama Mama

1-1/2 oz gold rum

1-1/2 oz Nassau Royale

2 oz orange juice

2 oz Bahamian pineapple juice

Dash of angostura bitters

1/6 oz grenadine

Shake ingredients together and serve in a tall glass garnished with fruit.

Piña Colada

1-1/2 oz white rum

1 oz coconut cream liqueur

2 oz Bahamian pineapple juice

Crushed ice

Combine ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth and serve in a tall glass garnished with fruit.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the king of all fruits! We are sure that by now you are already on your way to the blender to make a juicy pineapple cocktail! Make sure to check out Lady Di, and if you find yourself down in the Bahamas to give her a visit.

With love,

The Enders Family

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Sources

Lady Di - https://www.bahamas.com/plan-your-trip/things-to-do/lady-dis-pineapple-farm

Brief History - https://ediblecleveland.com/stories/fall-2016/a-brief-history-of-the-pineapple#readmore

Social History - https://www.levins.com/pineapple.html