Tropical juices are a magical breed. Island getaways, poolside sips, frothy topped glasses with pink umbrellas on top. Tropical beverages like fresh pineapple juice melt us into a sweet daydream, with just a simple sip from a glass.
Tropical fruits are mostly sweet, soft and incredibly hydrating. Pineapples, papaya, banana, coconut, guava and passion fruit are just a few of my fave fruits that come from warm sunny spots on the globe. Delicious to eat or to juice. So what happens when we juice a juicy golden pineapple? You might be surprised by the foamy results...
First up pineapple juice, then if part two of tropical juices - (later today) papaya juice.
Fruit Enzymes: Pineapple and Papaya. This duo of fruits are two of the most enzyme-famous fruits out there. Papaya is rich in papain and pineapple is rich in bromelin. Both these enzymes have been known to assist in digestion and aid a troubled tummy. It has also been said that fruit enzymes can help your body on other levels - like with allergies and detoxification of toxins. Chemistry 101 - an enzyme acts as a catalyst to speed up chemical reactions. Fruit enzymes are natures catalyst. Pineapple superfruit facts here.
Learn How to Chop a Pineapple here.
Pineapple Foam. It's a mysterious thing, the pineapple foam. But oh my gosh, "it's alive. It's alive." Anyone who has juiced a pineapple knows about "pineapple foam" When you crush and squeeze a pineapple, a peculiar white frothy foam boils up from the fruit chute. And I'm talking a lot of foam! It overflows my juicer and spills out all over my counter. But somehow I press on and finish juicing my pineapple - lots of white foam in the juice bin as well. I don't call it pineapple juice. It's really a pinapu-ccino.
Pineapple Foam reminds me of that scene in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, when the automobile thing starts spitting out foam from shiny silver pipes and trumpet-looking tubes - all over the kids and parents. Whap! A big swish of white foam right in Mike TV's mom's face. Maybe that was the excess from the pineapple candy.
Why do Pineapples Foam? My guess is it has something to do with the amount of air inside the pineapple flesh (all those grooves and such) - as well as the enzyme action as the juicer starts churning. Anyone have another explanation? I'd love to hear it.
Pineapple Juice
½ pineapple
*You can also juice the whole thing, but I like to keep some for eating.
Directions
1. Chop Pineapple - directions here.
2. Juice ½ of it and slice other half into chunks for eating.
3. Juice slowly. I had to use the 'reverse' button on my machine several times. If too much foam forms in your food chute, spoon it out and place directly in glasses - the foam will bubble away in a good few minutes.
Drink Up! Store juice in fridge for as long as it will last without someone chugging it. Up to a few days max. Fresh juice is always best.
