History of the pineapple
The correct botanical name of the pineapple is Ananas comosus. The fruit is native to South America, countries such as Brazil and neighbouring Paraguay. The fruit was originally grown in South America and was cultivated for food by the South American Guarani Indians (Tupi-Guarani Tribes). They named it “nana” meaning “excellent fruit”.
It is widely believed Christopher Columbus discovered the pineapple for Europe on his second voyage to the Caribbean in 1493. He discovered the pineapple on the island of Guadeloupe to where it had spread by this time, and called it “Pina de Indes”, meaning “pine of the Indians”.
The Caribbean Indians used the pineapple in two ways. In the first instance they would hang pineapples and crowns outside the entrance to the huts as symbols of friendship and hospitality. This practise indicated welcome to friends. On the other hand, however, they would fortify their villages with spiky, pineapple hedges, a different message being sent out to enemies.
The Spanish then adopted the friendship and hospitality symbol from the Caribbean Indians and pineapple designs were incorporated into wood and appeared on tables, chairs and chests. Pineapple designs became prominent on door lintels, appeared on canvas mats, sewn into tablecloths, carpets and draperies.
It is believed the pineapple was then introduced into the Philippines by the Spaniards in the early 16th Century. Portuguese traders are then said to have taken seeds to India in 1548 and brought seeds to the East and West coasts of Africa. Pineapple plants were reported in abundance in China and in South African by 1594 and 1655 respectively.
In 1650 the pineapple arrived in Europe. After that pineapples appeared in France, Holland, South Pacific Islands (Society Islands, Friendly Islands), Brisbane in Australia, East Indies, India and South Africa.
In Europe in the 18 and 19th century the pineapple became a symbol of success and wealth as there being no reliable sea freight at the time pineapples had to be expensively grown in the heated greenhouses of the larger estates. Often the fruit was used as a central table decoration to display affluence. Connected with this is why today one can often find carved or cast stone pineapples for the tops of gateposts to house driveways.
Today the pineapple is the third most important fruit in tropical world production after bananas.