Pina

Pineapples are ubiquitous in Costa Rica. They are eaten raw in fruit salads, by themselves, blended in fruit smoothies or juices, sliced to help marinate meat, or made into a jelly to serve on top of toast. Whatever the form, pineapples are found in just about every household and are absolutely DELICIOUS.

There are a couple of different types of pineapple that are sold now, and according to mis padres ticos, they have always been the same available even before the big fruit companies came to Costa Rica. The pineapple is important to Costa Rica because it is the top export--according to mi padre tico. It is one of the most important products of Costa Rica for economic reasons. Unlike the banana or coffee, pineapples do not have too much cultural significance in Costa Rica that goes beyond its profitable nature, or its consumption availability for all Ticans. Also, unlike its symbolism of hospitality in the United States, the pineapple is pretty but doesn't hold a special symbol or signification to Ticans.

When I think of pineapples and pineapple flavors in the United States, not much comes to mind. There are of course special Tropical Skittles that might contain pineapple flavor and there is of course the actual raw fruit, but other than that, pineapple flavoring is not very common at home. Here however, pineapples are everywhere. In drinks, jams, candies, stuffed in bread, being sold on the street, etc. Below is a picture of simply the raw fruit in Mas x Menos.

Pineapple is a very common fruit and flavor here in Costa Rica. Upon trying to find a comparison to a fruit in the US, maybe berry flavored things are an equivalent? They are readily grown in the US and are therefore flavors in other kinds of foods, drinks, candies, etc. Even though there is not a strong cultural significance to pineapple, it definitely communicates the commonplace of fruit in Tican culture, and the abundance of local produce.