This tropical fruit is especially fragrant, with a tough outer skin and firm fibrous flesh. Pineapples may vary in color from yellow/green to orange, and when ripe, their leaves should pull away easily. When buying pineapples, choose an aromatic, heavy fruit (full of juice) that is slightly tender but not soft. Pineapples store well and thus are easily exported by countries in Africa, Asia, and the West Indies, where they are grown in large quantities. They should be kept at room temperature until opened. Ripe pineapples should be handled carefully, as they bruise easily.
Pineapples have a high sugar content and many vitamins. They are often cut into various shapes and eaten fresh. They are also canned in syrup, and incorporated into many dessert preparations (deep-fried as fritters, or sautÄed) and pork or game dishes (in many Oriental recipes).
The first discovery of pineapples in Brazil by a European was in the sixteenth century. They were introduced to Britain, and then to France, over the next two centuries.
