Friday, April 9, 2010

Pineberries. Or if you prefer: Strawapples.



The newest fruit:

The PINEBERRIE.

A summer berry that looks like a white strawberry but tastes like a pineapple is going on sale in Europe this season.

The pineberry is white, covered with red seeds and has the same genetic make-up as a strawberry, but has the taste and smell of a pineapple.

About seven years ago the pineberry was taken from its native South America and grown commercially in glasshouses by the Dutch. Like strawberries, they're green until they ripen, but instead of turning a deep, juicy red, these fruits turn white with little red seeds.

The fruit flesh can range from soft white to orange and is very fragrant with a slight pineapple flavor. The plant is disease resistant, but is not very profitable. Due to small-scale farming, small berry size and low yield crop, the Pineberry has been marketed to European restaurants, bakeries and wholesale markets. They aint cheap either, a 100 gram would cost you some 7 euros. Nicki Baggott, fruit buyer for Waitrose UK, which is launching the white fruit at selected stores this month, said the berries would add a ­surprising twist to summer ­desserts.



They join other unusual recently introduced fruits such as the strasberry, which looks like a cross between a strawberry and a raspberry. ( left the strawberry, right the strasberry) Other 'halfbreeds': the pluot ( pluot is a hybrid of the plum and the apricot),
and the grapple ( grapefruit/apple)

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