If you are making the mistake of trashing pineapple skin every day, desist. Put them to work. The skins of fruits are packed with flavours and vitamins, and can swirl as hot teas and infusions for maximising your health index. Pineapple tea packs in the power with a big dose of nutrients.
While growing, fruits push most of their nutrients towards the peels. Discarding the peels means discarding the goodness of those nutrients. Maximise on the fruit by swirling the peels into a concoction with herbs and honey to warm up the sips this season:
The pine pour
“You might be putting pineapple peels in the bin to offload the impact of artificial ripening agents and pesticides, but pineapple skin comes packed with anti-oxidants, vitamin A and vitamin C. It is also high in manganese,” says nutritionist Deepalekha Bhattacharjee. “All fruits and vegetables carry the mineral punch, more than the actual produce beneath the peel. You can make nutritious, seasonal fruit peel teas, choosing organic produce.”
“Fruit skin teas or herbal teas are a brilliant way of adding to the hydration status of the body,” says nutritionist and lifestyle educator, Karishma Chawla. “Pineapple peel tea carries anti-inflammatory properties that helps reduce stress. The peel of the fruit also brings in bromelain, an enzyme present in pineapple. It helps in denaturation and digestion of protein and is a fabulous source of polyphenols. Hence this tea can help boost digestion, aid gut health along with help with lowering inflammation. Again, a great choice for winters since we always looking to consume immune boosters during this season.”
How to make
The addition of tea leaves to the infusion makes the tannins kill the nutrients in the peels. “Mostly peel teas are prepared by boiling. But the peels that are high in Vitamin C, can be infused for 6-10 hours and then simmered along with ginger on low flame for five minutes,” advises Bhattacharjee. “The infusion helps the goodness of peels to get into the water. Vitamin C is highly heat sensitive and water soluble, so you must use low flame to preserve the vitamin content. This pineapple tea with ginger, or with a sprinkle of cinnamon and honey or palm sugar makes a unique concoction to sip on. A dot of apple cider vinegar revs up the taste.”
While overboiling may diminish nutrients, phytochemical, flavonoids, polyphenols present in the tea, you can have pineapple tea hot or cold, recommends Chawla. “Add herbs like lavender, chamomile, ginger, turmeric, cloves, rosemary, thyme to boost taste and benefits. Studies say shelf life of the pineapple skin tea can be up to 3-5 days or a week, and it is advisable to refrigerate it. But I would advise to make it fresh and consume the same day.
One for all
Fruit teas are safe for all, unless you have an underlying health condition. “People with mineral imbalance, especially pertaining to sodium and potassium must avoid peel concoctions as most fruit skins are high in sodium and potassium. The potassium content in the pineapple peels is more than the pulp,” cautions Bhattacharjee.
“Having pineapple tea in the morning aids digestion. You can have it pre and between meals for soothing digestion, or relax with a sip post dinner. Pineapple tea controls bloating. Conversely, keep in mind that apple is a source of soluble and insoluble fibre, hence for some it can help with constipation and sometimes not, hence here one needs to make a conscious choice,” advises Chawla. “Have fresh, seasonal concoctions. Orange peel tea helps with gut motility and resolves constipation; lemon peel tea lowers inflammation, and banana skin tea betters sleep, just like pine apple skin tea.” She pegs nutritious couples in : apple peel tea with cinnamon; pine apple tea with ginger and turmeric; Banana peel tea with cinnamon; and lemon rind tea with basil.
Keep in mind
- Buy organically grown fruits
- Wash and clean fruit peels properly before using
- Soak fruit peels in vinegar, salt, soda water to remove any traces of pesticides
- Seasonal fruit teas also include orange, lemon, pear, guava, sweet lime
- Apple skin tea has high quercetin content and is a champion antioxidant
- Banana tea makes for better sleep
- Sundried peels can be preserved in airtight containers 6 months to 1 year
- Peels that are frozen can be stored for 2-3 months
- Pineapple peel lasts for maximum seven days when refrigerated
- Avoid pineapple, and papaya tea if pregnant
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