Yahoo News Pink Pineapples Are Real—and Their Flavor Is Even More Surprising Than Their Color
Value: 10/20
Flavor: 20/20
Quality: 20/20
Aesthetics: 20/20
Texture: 18/20
TOTAL: 88/100
That isn’t an Instagram filter or Photoshop fakery—those photos popping up in your feed of millennial pink pineapples are real. And they’re a project that’s been 15 years in the making. The purveyor of all things pineapple, Fresh Del Monte, has been developing its Pinkglow Pineapple variety on a farm in Costa Rica since 2005, and this month, they hit the market—and instantly became an internet sensation. (Despite being buzzed about over the past few years, searches for “pink pineapples” are up 180 percent over the past year, with queries for Pinkglow increasing by a whopping 500 percent.)
Naturally, we needed to know: Are people so obsessed with millennial pink, even today, that they need a Legally Blonde-worthy snack? Could it really taste that different than a classic pineapple? And on what planet could it be worth paying up to $49 for a single piece of produce, no matter how many likes it nets you on Instagram?! So, I had one delivered to my door to find out.
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How Different Are Pinkglow Pineapples from Regular Pineapples?
At first glance, it looks like a lot of marketing surrounding a typical pineapple—the size and exterior are pretty similar to your standard, grocery-store pineapple (albeit these are delivered without their crowns, as Del Monte immediately replants them). It’s boxed with a certificate of authenticity, just to ensure you weren’t duped, but it’s really the first slice that brings the wow factor.
Are They Really, Truly Pink Inside?
This pineapple lives up to its name: It’s truly blush pink inside. To the point that everyone in the vicinity of my kitchen stopped what they were doing to check it out. The flesh seemed a bit softer, and it was easier to carve into than a typical pineapple. The room immediately filled with the scent of fresh pineapple, and it was juicy, but not more so than your average fruit.
But oh, the flavor! That’s where the Pinkglow pineapple shines. It’s a little sweeter—definitely less tart—than a traditional pineapple, with a crispness on the backend that keeps it from tasting cloying. In short, it’s straight-up refreshing. You could add it to a cocktail or top it on a Hawaiian burger, but honestly, that seems like a waste of the fruit. It’s too good on its own to have any other flavors diluting it or distracting from it.
OK, Where Can I Buy Them?
Right now, Pinkglow pineapples are sold at pinkglowpineapple.com, either through Tropical Fruit Box if you live on the east coast of the U.S., or Melissa’s if you live on the west coast. Pricing is subject to change, and it looks like Melissa’s sells its Pinkglows for $29 apiece, whereas Tropical Fruit Box charges $49.
Considering you can buy a premium gold pineapple for about $2.48 at Walmart, that price is a sticking point. It’s a lot to justify, honestly, even if you’re getting a superior product that comes with some serious production costs. After all, each pink pineapple takes 24 months to produce and they have to be shipped individually. But, if you consider the fruit to be part of a celebration—the treat you’d serve, say, in place of a cake or alongside that fancy bottle of bubbly during your anniversary—it could be worth the splurge. For a casual Tuesday or your morning smoothie, it seems a bit extreme. Unless you’re a Real Housewife or former My Super Sweet Sixteen star, I suppose. But who am I to judge? How you eat your Pinkglows—and how often—is your call.
