Ananas

Ananas refers to the pineapple plant and its fruit, with the scientific name Ananas comosus. It is a tropical bromeliad in the family Bromeliaceae, native to South America and widely cultivated in warm, frost-free regions around the world. The term ananas is used in many languages, while English commonly uses pineapple.

The plant forms a rosette of long, stiff leaves with a spiny margin. From the center, a short flowering stalk emerges and produces numerous flowers. After fertilization, the individual fruitlets fuse into a single, composite fruit. The mature fruit has a rough, scale-like skin and sweet, juicy flesh that is typically yellow to orange.

Cultivation requires warm temperatures, well-drained soil, and adequate humidity. Pineapples prefer full sun and are propagated by suckers, slips, or cuttings from the plant. Crops are grown in many tropical and subtropical regions, often on sandy or loamy soils with careful irrigation and nutrient management. Major producers include Costa Rica, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Ghana, and Brazil.

Uses and nutrition: Pineapple is widely eaten fresh or used in juices, desserts, and savory dishes. The fruit contains vitamin C, manganese, and dietary fiber, and it contains bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme that can aid digestion. Some individuals may experience mouth irritation or allergies after consumption, particularly in large amounts.

Varieties: Commercial cultivars include Smooth Cayenne, Red Spanish, and MD2, among others. These differ in size, sweetness, acidity, and storage characteristics. Pineapple is also processed into canned products and added-value foods.