Introduction
Pineapples are a popular fruit in the grocery store, but did you know there are actually more than one types of pineapples? It’s true! There are many different types of pineapples, each with their own characteristics. With flavors that range from extremely sweet to sour, pineapples are a fruit you definitely don’t want to pass up! If you’re craving a pineapple but are not sure which one to pick, read on to learn about the different types of pineapples you can buy at the store.
African Sugarloaf
African Sugarloaf pineapples are cylindrical in shape and taper towards the crown, like a cone. They weigh an average of 3 to 6 pounds, and are topped with a tightly-grouped crown of green, smooth, stiff, pointed-tipped leaves. They have a thin and waxy rind with hexagonal segments that contain small spikes, causing the exterior to be rough to the touch.
African Sugarloaf pineapples are green when under ripe, and mature to a deep golden hue with pink and orange tones. The flesh is whiter than other varieties of pineapple, and is exceedingly sweet with hints of honey and almost no acidity. African Sugarloaf pineapples can reach up to a 15 on the brix scale. Unlike other varieties, the African Sugarloaf pineapple’s flesh is not woody or fibrous, including the edible core.
The Hawaiian Sugarloaf
The Hawaiian Sugarloaf is probably the most well-known type of pineapple. It is characterized by its smooth, cylindrical shape and sweet, juicy flesh. The Smooth Cayenne is a variety of the Hawaiian Sugarloaf and is named for its resemblance to cayenne peppers. This type of pineapple is generally smaller and more acidic than other types.
Singapore Red
Signapore Red pineapples feature green leaves with a reddish stripe at the end. The fruits are reddish, cylindrical, and small with golden-yellow flesh. They’re disease and pest-resistant and are great for canning.
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Hawaiian Crown Pineapple
The Hawaiian Crown is the most iconic pineapple. It’s the traditional red and green design that you see on postcards and in gift shops all over Hawaii. This type of pineapple is used for fresh eating and can be found in grocery stores all year long. If you’re looking for a festive addition to your party, the Hawaiian Crown is a great choice.
Red Spanish
The red Spanish pineapple is the most common type of pineapple that you will find in the grocery store. It is known for its sweet and tangy flavor, as well as its characteristic red color. This type of pineapple is typically smaller than some of the others, but it is still a great option for snacking or adding to a fruit salad.
The Queen, or Cayenne
The Queen, or Cayenne, pineapple is named for its regal qualities and spiciness. This variety has a yellow skin and a sweet, juicy, white flesh. It’s the most popular type of pineapple, accounting for about three-quarters of the world’s crop. The Cayenne is mostly eaten fresh, but can also be used in juices, jams, and jellies.
Honey Cream
Honey Cream pineapples are relatively small, squat fruit with a dark orange or red skin. They weigh an average of 46 ounces each, and are around 11 centimeters in diameter. They are green when immature, then turn yellow before their skin color deepens to darker reddish hues. Honey Cream pineapples smell fragrant, sweet and floral and taste extremely sweet, with hints of honey and coconut.
Brecheche Pineapple
Brecheche Pineapples have a small size, and their leaves are medium and olive colored. They are shaped cylindrically, and the fruit is yellow color. The plant is also spiked free. It is grown to a limited extent in Southern Venezuela. The flesh is very fragrant and juicy with little fiber and small core.
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The Abacaxi
The Abacaxi is a type of pineapple that is popular in Brazil. It is smaller and more round than other pineapple varieties, and has a sweet and tangy flavor. Abacaxi pineapples are usually eaten peeled and chilled, and are great for snacking or adding to fruit salads.
Baby Queen Victoria
Baby Queen Victorian pineapples, also known as Baby South African pineapples, are smaller than the common pineapple, standing only four to 5 inches tall. The fronds extending from the crown are only 2 inches longer and are sharp and covered in spikes. These mini pineapples have a fragrant golden orange skin and juicy, bright yellow flesh. They are sweeter and more aromatic than their larger counterparts.
The MacIntosh
The MacIntosh is easily identified by its reddish-green skin and sweet taste. This variety is firmer than other pineapples, but it’s also the most susceptible to browning. MacIntosh pineapples are great for eating fresh or in smoothies.
Cayena Lisa Pineapples
A medium-sized plant with long, wide leaves, this pineapple’s fruit is cylindrical in shape and has a reddish-orange outside with a pale-yellow inside, and there are a few spikes on the tips of the leaves.
Pernambuco Pineapples
The Pernambuco pineapple is a rare variety that’s mostly grown in Brazil. The fruit is small and has a hard, dark green shell. Its flesh is orange and very sweet, making it a prized delicacy. The skin and core are also edible, so there’s no waste with this pineapple. It’s often used in desserts and fruit bowls.
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Roja Espanola Pineapples
This fruit is barrel-shaped and yellow-orange in color; they actually consist of small individual fruits that gather and make multiple fruits that we call a pineapple. This type of pineapple has a taste that is very sweet and pleasant, and each of the individual fruits has covers, or eyes, with tiny leaves.
Naini Jubilee
The Naini Jubilee is a golden pineapple that was created in India in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee. This pineapple is aptly named for its beautiful gold color. The fruit is quite large and has a sweet flavor with a touch of acidity. The Naini Jubilee is great for eating fresh, but can also be used in jams, jellies, and other desserts.
Manzana Pineapple
Manzana pineapples are a smaller variety, averaging 13 to 15 centimeters in diameter, and have an oblong to cylindrical shape with a pointed crown of thornless leaves. The rind is firm, waxy, thin, and semi-smooth, comprised of spineless, hexagonal sections with shallow eyes. When ripe, the rind of the fruit develops a signature, deep red hue. Underneath the surface, the pulp or flesh ranges in color from golden yellow to pale pink and is aqueous and soft, encasing a central fibrous core. Manzana pineapples are aromatic and have a mild, tropical, and subtly sweet flavor with low acidity.
Honey Malang
Honey Malang pineapples are smaller in size than common pineapples and have a round to slightly cylindrical shape with tall, dark green leaves. The leaves are thick and sharp with serrated edges and grow in a tuft, also known as a crown. The tough rind is golden yellow to light brown and is firm, dense, and rough with many small eyes centered in hexagonal ridges scattered across the surface. Underneath the rind, the bright yellow flesh is juicy, smooth, and crunchy. Honey Malang pineapples are aromatic with a sweet flavor and mild acidity.
Ripley Pineapple
Ripley Pineapples have reddish-green colored leaves with brown spots. They are round, oval fruits with dark green color, but pale copper when they fully ripen. The fruit is sweet and succulent while the fiber amount is on the lower side. It is grown in Queensland and is a dwarf plant.
Conclusion
The pineapple, also known as an Ananas comosus, has grown into its now-iconic shape over centuries of cultivation by humans. We hope this guide to the different types of pineapples you can buy at the store is useful!