Imagine a fruit that has the shape of a strawberry and the flavor of pineapple: well, it exists, and it's called a pineberry. It's a particular type of strawberry, with a color somewhere between white and pink and a wonderful and unexpected pineapple flavor. But the fusion isn't just in its appearance and flavor: the name pineberry also comes from a portmanteau of the words pineapple and strawberry.
Origins and Characteristics
The pineapple strawberry has roots planted in the soil of South America: to be precise, it is actually a hybrid of two species, Fragaria chiloensis and Fragaria virginiana. It seems that the union dates back to the mid-1700s when the French botanist Antoine Nicolas Duchesne united these two plants belonging to different families. However, the fruit did not have the success it deserved and it almost seemed as if during the 1900s it was destined for extinction: today we owe its presence to some Dutch growers who decided to continue production and launch them on the market.
Pineberries are a pinkish- white color with small red seeds: in shape, however, they are actually strawberries, just slightly smaller. But what is the reason for this particular color? It's the low amount of the Fragaria A1 allergen protein, which is what gives strawberries their typical red color during ripening. However, it's also the main cause of allergic reactions: therefore, pineberries can be safely eaten by those with an intolerance or allergy, but it's always best to consult a doctor before consuming them.
Pineberries' Benefits
Nutritionally, pineberries aren't much different from traditional strawberries: they're excellent for the immune system and skin health, thanks to their significant vitamin C content. They're rich in fiber, which aids digestion, stimulates collagen production, and provides a great source of zinc, calcium, and magnesium. Finally, they can easily be incorporated into a healthy diet, as they're fairly low in calories (about 27 kcal per 100 grams).
Where Can You Buy Pineberries?
Pineberries aren't exactly easy to find: this is because they're considered a gourmet fruit, and therefore rarer, so you're more likely to find them in more specialized shops or you can buy the seeds online. As for price, however, they can be more expensive than regular strawberries, given their small-scale production. As Carlos Masià, purchasing and marketing director for Masià Ciscar de Lepe, stated in an interview with the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, the cost can be "almost double that of conventional strawberries. This is because the plants are less productive, so they're rarer, but also because they're more delicate to grow and harvest."
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