Thailand at your doorstep

If I were doing a competition for the “most current topical fruit” you might mistakenly think I’m talking about watermelon, melon, maybe grapes, but no.

I’m going for the deeper category, some might say half way towards the “homonyms” in crossword puzzles.

I mean a fruit that is most current right now for two reasons. The first, because even though many of us are dreaming about traveling to distant, if not remote places, and preferably with a cocktail decorated with a colorful umbrella on a beach withwhite sand and turquoise waters, and the dream is even sweeter after the long closure, and due to the ever-growing threat of another closure hanging over our heads like a rain cloud during the harvest season (which equates to: the worst timing possible.

But you understand me) – Despite all that, many of those dreamers will stay in the country this summer, as opposed to other years, due to Corona virus.

And it is most current right now for a second reason because it is rich with vitamin C, 'and we all know that we should eat more vitamin C when viruses and diseases are raging around in order to boost the immune system.So the perfect combination of a tropical fruit and a lot of Vitamin C can be found in…. (yes, in guava, but now is not their season) Pineapple!

And after all this long and not so optimistic opening, let's talk a little bit about this fun fruit. Even from a distance, when I see it on the shelf, I feel like wearing a chain of flowers and a straw skirt and dancing towards it with outstretched hands.

There is not a more wonderful moment in the day than when you take one of these succulent heads and peel it and slice it: First, remove the crown (you can keep it, if you feel like growing a pineapple. It can be done in a pot – though, you will have to be patient because the process may take something like… two years).

Then, remove the rectangle-filled-slightly-thorny yellow-orange peel. I always imagine how it is all done using a few machete blows.

But if your machete is away getting sharpened today, please use a big knife and be cautious. Afterpeeling you examine the large chunky yellow lump that smells like all of Thailand is right here on your cutting board. This is the time for the fateful question –should I slice through the core, or cut vertically around it?

Either way should result in a bowl-full of delicious succulent cubes (or any other shape) of organic pineapple, which smells so good that the neighbors may knock on your door just so they can ask for something.

It's such a lovely fruit that, even if you just hold it in your hand, this wonderful scent will follow you all day, waves of subtle tropical aroma that is balanced like no perfume can be (and of course contains none of the harmful components that most perfumes carry).

But pineapple is not only the scent, it is also a perfect fruit for summer, and also brings lots of health with it. Perfect for summer – it contains easy and available sugars that does not burden the digestive system, and plenty of water.

Not only does it not burden it, it actually assists it because it contains a substance called “bromelain”, which like Papaya, helps the digestive system break down protein into smaller, digestible building blocks, as well as strengthens the digestive system against parasites.

No more feeling heavy after a good meal. Long live the pineapple! In addition, our organic pineapple contains a good amount of Vitamin C (which will be well appreciated by the immune system), as well as B-Group vitamins, which will delight the hair, nails the digestive system and the nervous system (which is vulnerable during times of stress).

Pineapple also contains folic acid, which is much tastier to eat in cubes than in tablets, and also the relatively rare element of manganese, potassium, beta-carotene and magnesium. A nice package indeed.

Yours,