Do you like pineapple? In addition to being an extremely tasty and nutritious fruit, it is an easily accessible product. We can find it at fairs and supermarkets without any problem – and, many times, even peeled off. However, it wasn't always like this, did you know?
In ancient Great Britain, for example, tropical fruit was considered a luxury item and represented maximum prestige. So much so that it adorns the top of the western spiers of St. Paul in London to the present day.
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At that time, pineapples were imported from far away to reach that country. They were even given as a gift to royalty, as shown by an old painting, dating from the 17th century, by the artist Henrick Danckerts.
In the image, a royal gardener is kneeling offering a pineapple to King Charles II. Look:
(Photo: Public domain)
This painting is believed to have been commissioned by the king himself, as published by the CNN Brasil website. The vehicle interviewed Francesca Beauman, author of the book “The Pineapple: King Of Fruits”, which tells the story of the pineapple.
The most accepted theory is that the pineapple of the painting was sent to King Charles II directly from Barbados. New World explorers filled their mouths (pardon the pun) to talk about how delicious the fruit was, and this ended up arousing people's curiosity.
It is said that when Charles II experienced the “SpongeBob House” for the first time, in 1668, during a banquet hosted by the French ambassador, he sighed with admiration.
What we are going to tell you may be curious, but pineapple was rarely used for food. According to Francesca Beauman, it was often used as a gift and also displayed on dinner tables as a status symbol. They left it there until it started to rot. Then they threw it away.
According to the writer, there are even cases of renting pineapples. People would pick the fruit for a few hours to go to a party or similar engagement and then return it to the original owner.
It was around 1770 and 1780 that the fruit began to be used in architecture – especially on gates. It was a way for wealthier families to “mark territory”.
When the fruit began to be imported in large quantities, in 1820, it ceased to be a luxury. According to the writer, 200,000 pineapples were unloaded at London docks at that time.
And some time later, with the refrigeration and canning, everyone could have one of these at home and the fruit's reign of more than 150 years was over.
Value your pineapple in the fruit bowl and think about this whole story the next time you buy it at your street market!
Graduated in Social Communication at the Federal University of Goiás. Passionate about digital media, pop culture, technology, politics and psychoanalysis.
