The Flavor Notes That Set Pink Pineapples Apart From Yellow

People tend to be utterly delighted by fruits that come with unexpected flavors and colors. There are pink lemons, golden kiwis, pineberries that look like white strawberries, and grapes that taste like cotton candy, just to name a few. Well, now you can add pink pineapples to the list of foods that make you go "Ooh!" Whimsical, unexpected, and just plain pretty, a pink pineapple looks like a golden pineapple on the outside but the flesh has a blushing pink hue and, some say, a candy-like flavor.

Golden pineapples are distinctly sweet yet sharp at the same time, and we don't mean their crowns. The flesh is highly acidic but pleasantly so, which is part of what gives pineapple its unique, tropical flavor. Pinkglows, on the other hand, are much less sour and a lot juicier than their golden counterparts. Some have described the aroma of this special fruit as floral or rosy with a flavor like pineapple and strawberries combined. It took 16 years for Del Monte to develop the fruit and only in recent years has it been available for purchase. The official name of the varietal is Pinkglow and it is grown exclusively by Del Monte in Costa Rica. 

New Pinkglows are grown from mature pineapple crowns. In fact, when you purchase a Pinkglow, you'll notice that the spiky crown has been removed because it's been used to grow another pink pineapple. They get their unusual color from the presence of lycopene, the same pigment that naturally occurs in other red fruits like tomatoes and watermelons. Currently, the fruit is only sold in Canada and the U.S. with the exception of the state of Hawaii which strictly prohibits the importation of any pineapple.

You can pretty much find fresh golden pineapples at any supermarket at any time of the year, and they're very reasonably priced, but you're going to have to search a little harder for Pinkglows. They are scattered around the country at various farmer's markets, grocery stores, and membership stores, but they are certainly not wide-spread. Of course, you can also order them online from a couple of retailers where you'll pay between $30 and $40 for a single pink pineapple. At grocery stores, they cost substantially less but still much more than golden pineapples. If you do get your hands on one, reserve it for a special occasion like Mother's Day, a bridal shower, or an important birthday. You can use it just like you would a regular pineapple; it would look smashing in fresh pineapple salsa or used as an unexpected garnish on a piña colada.