Pineapple/Pinya
Did you know that pineapples came from the family of bromeliads? No wonder the plant looks just like bromeliad except for the showy fruit we know as pineapple. It is called pineapple because it resembles pine cone. It was introduced by the Spaniards to the New World and now it is widely cultivated around the globe. It is indigenous to South America and spread through the Caribbeans. The Spaniards introduced pineapples to the Philippines and we are enjoying this beautiful fruit ever since. Pineapples can be eaten raw but can be cooked in different ways too as dessert primarily just like pineapple upside down cake, fruit salads, fruit cocktails, jams or jellies. In Hawaii they even put it as topping for pizza. I myself like the Hawaiian style pizza.
In the Philippines, they develop how to use the leaves of the pineapple as fiber. We call the fiber pinya. The famous Barong Tagalog is mainly made with this material same as the Philippine gowns used by dignitaries and celebrities. It is the equivalent of silk in the Philippines.
Anyways I like pineapple because of the health benefits just like the digestive enzyme bromelain, vitamin C and minerals like potassium and magnesium. It has a sweet-sour taste and really refreshing to eat especially in the heat of the summer.