Calling all fruit lovers! I am a huge fan of fruit, and one of my hobbies besides growing fruit trees is tasting unique and exotic fruits from around the world. One of my favorite fruits growing up and still to this day is pineapple. Especially grilled pineapple with a bit of sugar added to it, oh my, it is like candy. In this article, I talk about one unique pineapple, the pink pineapple or the correct name is Pinkglow pineapple.
Learn all about the amazing Pink Pineapple, where it comes from and where it grows, what the nutritional benefits are, how it got its pink color, how to eat it, and what it tastes like. The Pinkglow pineapple is truly the “Jewel of the Jungle.”
Where does the Pinkglow or Pink Pineapple come from and where does it grow?
The Pinkglow® or pink pineapple is grown by the Del Monte company. It is exclusively grown in Costa Rica and then shipped and sold in the United States and Canada. Except for Hawaii. The state of Hawaii prohibits outside pineapples from entering their State. As of this article, those two countries are the only places you can find pink pineapple.
I was lucky enough to find them at H-Mart in Mesa, Arizona. It is a Korean and International supermarket, and they get exotic fruits all the time. One of my go-to places to find new fruits to try. If you want to buy them online they can be found at Melissa’s and Tropical Fruit Box. But be warned, they are extremely expensive online.
They were only $9.99 where I got them, which wasn’t bad at all considering they are $30 to $40 dollars online. Granted when you buy them online they come in a nicely packaged gift box.
Although Del Monte has been working on the Pinkglow® for quite some time (2005), it wasn’t until recently, late 2020, that it hit the shelves in the United States. Mainly because of the long regulartory process that takes place with genetically modified foods. The FDA approved the fruit in 2016.
Where does the Pinkglow name come from? And is the pineapple really pink?
The term Pinkglow® comes from the fact that the pineapple is indeed pink! A pink pineapple, how cool is that? Del Monte bioengineered the fruit to supress the naturally occurring beta carotene enzyme yellow pigment, which turns the fruit normally yellow, and enhance the levels of a pink pigment called lycopene, which makes the color pink. That same enzyme is what makes tomatoes red and watermelons pink. Pretty genius really.
Bioengineered? Genetically modified? Is it safe? Yes, yes, and yes! The pink pineapple is just as safe and nutrious as to eat as regular pineapples. How could that be, you may be wondering? Because the genetic modification only changed three genes in the pineapple, none of which effect the safety or nutrition.
What are the nutritional benefits?
Pineapples in general not only are super tasty but are packed with nutritional benefits. The Pinkglow® contains the same nutritional benefits as a normal pineapple. Here are a few of them:
- Low in calories, per serving (1 cup)
- High in fiber
- High in Vitamin C
- Loaded with Manganese
- Good source of Vitamin B6, Copper, Thiamine, and other essential vitamins and minerals
- High in antioxidants, which help fight diseases
- May aid in digestion
- May reduce risk of cancer
- Immunity booster
And much more! Learn more about the health benefits at Healthline.
How to eat Pink Pineapple or Pinkglow®
First of all you will notice a difference between the Pinkglow® pineapple and a regular one. The pink pineapple will cup with the top or crown already cut off. And why is that? Well because they are harvested by hand, and in order to generate new crops they plant the crowns. Very smart!
Like all pineapples, they will not ripen after picking, but may change color, from greenish to more yellowish. But it will taste the same whenever you eat it.
Just cut it and serve it like you would any other pineapple. This isn’t a specific “how to cut a pineapple” tutorial. But basically you cut off the ends and then slice down the sides and then cut out the eyes. Or use a pineapple corer which is super handy if you eat a lot of pineapple.
Use it for pink pineapple upside down cake. Or make a pink homemade pineapple dole dessert. Eat it as is, put it on your pizza? Yes, I like pineapple on my pizza, deal with it. Put it in an amabrosia salad. Throw it on the grill, however you want to eat it.
What does Pinkglow® pink pineapple taste like?
And finally the taste test! If you love pineapple in general, you will love this! While it taste similar to a normal pineapple it also has a delicious and different or unique taste to it. It is extremely juicy, I think a bit juicier than a standard pineapple. Also it isn’t as sour or tangy. A bit sweeter with a floral rose-like smell, almost like candy, and even a hint of cotton candy flavor. Of course tastes are subjective, but it really is a super tasty fruit.
Again if you are a fan of pineapples, you will love this.
Is it worth the price? If you can find it for less than $12, I would say it is definitely worth trying at least once. I will definitely buy more at $9.99, which is the price I got. Are they worth $29.99 or $39.99? I don’t know about that. But when they are sold at that price they come in a cool gift box, which is where a lot of the price markup comes from.
Speaking of which, the Pinkglow® pink pineapple would make for a really cool gift to give to a fruit lover. Especially if that person loves tasting and trying out new fruits.
I hope you enjoyed learning about this unique fruit.
Watch my video I made about the Pinkglow Pink Pineapple!
Here are other fruit articles you may be interested in:
I purchased a pink pineapple for $5.00 in Oklahoma at a store called Reasors. It was all moldy and soft. I took it back to the store I purchased it at and traded it for a different one. I didn’t find it jucier than a yellow pineapple but it tasted good, not as sweet as normal pineapple. I feel like I got a good price if you paid almost $10.
Glad you found one to try! Yeah that is a good price!
This is really amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing, so excited to try!
Thanks!! You are very welcome! I hope you get to try one someday.
This is SO cool! I am so excited to try a pink pineapple now!! Looks delicious!
Thanks! Yes, please do, when you get the chance. They are yummy!
I have been DYING to try a pink pineapple. How awesome you found one locally at a great price!
I hope you get to try one soon, they are awesome! 🙂