I LOVE fresh pineapple and enjoy pineapple grilled, baked, broiled, poached, roasted, sautéed, stir-fried, and in my pineapple ginger iced tea. That pretty much tells you how versatile pineapple is in the kitchen. The taste of a ripe pineapple is amazingly juicy, delicious, and has the right balance between sweet and tart.
SAY NO to Food Waste:
I hate to throw food away. Reasons, why people discard food, vary from lack of planning of food shopping to poor food storage practices. I say lack of planning may be the biggest contribution to food waste.
With spring’s arrival, Hawaiian pineapple is in season and the iced tea season is starting.
I’m using the pineapple core. Another small contribution is to say “no” to food waste.
The core is a little harder than the fleshy part of the fruit but has the same amount of nutrients as the
pineapple flesh.
Food Waste Facts:
As it stands, the U.S. is the worldwide leader in food waste generation, with the majority of wasted food being sent to landfills. The reality of food waste in America is that we live in a country in which more than 54 million people are food insecure (18 million of which are children) according to 2020 data collected by Feeding America.
Iced tea is a refreshing beverage that is most popular in the heat of the summer. However, I don’t think there is any specific season for iced tea; I drink it all year round. Making pineapple ginger iced tea gives me another reason to use my Vitamix. I love my Vitamix! There is nothing this blender can’t tackle, this thing is a beast.. Super loud though. Believe it or not, my wife is actually afraid of the blender.
Selecting Pineapples:
You want to select ripe pineapples that are bright in appearance, not dull or dingy looking. A ripe pineapple is fragrant and has a dark yellow-orange color. Never buy a pineapple with a sour or fermented smell. There are people that think it’s alright to purchase a green pineapple. However, the truth is, that if the pineapple is harvested while it’s green the fruit will never reach its peak ripeness. It just won’t be the sweetest, juiciest pineapple that you’ve ever tasted. Remember pineapple will not continue to ripen at home. Keeping the pineapple for a day or two at room temperature will make it softer and juicer, but not sweeter. During cooler months, add cinnamon to your pineapple ginger tea and enjoy it as a hot beverage.
Health Benefits:
Both green tea and ginger are known for their health benefits, which scientific evidence supports. Pineapple iced tea has the extra wellness benefit of ginger making it a great beverage that can be enjoyed all year round.
Growing Ginger Guide or how to Grow Ginger at Home:
We all agree that ginger has amazing health benefits, however, did you know there is actually a way to grow ginger in your backyard. There is an amazing Webpage, Happy DIY Home that speaks in detail about How to Grow Ginger at Home. It takes you through all the steps on how to prepare the soil, cool weather care, how to harvest, etc. Amazing information and I find their link to the different planting zones extremely helpful.
Fun pineapple uses:
Slice pineapple core into 1-inch pieces, place in freezer, and then use as ice cubes. Or use the pineapple core in a smoothie. Nutritional’s are for a 10 ounce serving of delicious, not too sweet, full of flavor, pineapple ginger iced tea.
Pineapple Core Ginger Iced Tea
Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 pineapple fresh, core
- 1 knob ginger, ground fresh, peeled, minced
- 2 tbsp sugar granulated
- 1 ounce green tea loose
- 2 quarts water
- 3 cups ice cubs
Instructions
Cook pineapple core
- Cut pineapple core into 1/2 inch pieces, place in a pot add water, and peeled minced ginger. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.3 pineapple, 1 knob ginger, ground, 2 tbsp sugar, 2 quarts water
Puree pineapple
- Place pineapple broth in Vitamix blender and puree. Pour into a bowl, add green tea, and steep for about 5 minutes.1 ounce green tea
Drain pineapple tea
- Drain pineapple tea through a fine strainer or cheesecloth and cool for 2 hours. Serve over ice.3 cups ice cubs
Nutrition
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate