This pineapple skin tea recipe is so easy and helps reduce waste in the kitchen. It is the perfect way to make use of your pineapple skins and core.
So how did I even get into this? One day, my mother’s caretaker peeled a pineapple for us to eat and made delicious tea with the skins. That was the first time I saw the skins being used!
She is from the Dominican Republic. There is so much I have learned from her in reducing kitchen waste and maximizing the health benefits of every part of your food.
Pineapple Skin Tea
Pineapple skin tea originated in Jamaica. It is an amazing anti-inflammatory sweet drink that can be served both cold over ice, or warm.
Traditionally, it is made with ginger, turmeric, citrus, and sugar. Citrus used can be lime, orange, or mandarin orange and the sweetener can be any sweetener of choice.
Though called “Pineapple Skin Tea”, most often, the core is also included to get the nutrients left in there as well. I grew up eating most, if not all, of the core! It’s definitely tougher to chew than the soft part we’re used to, but I still love it.
Pineapple Skin Tea benefits
The main benefit in pineapple skins is bromelain. Bromelain is found in the fruit, skin, and juice of the pineapple. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative health (NCCIH) states that bromelain is promoted for:
“reducing pain and swelling, especially of the nose and sinuses, gums, and other body parts after surgery or injury. It is also promoted for osteoarthritis, cancer, digestive problems, and muscle soreness.”
NCCIH
Fun Fact: Bromelain is also in the stem of the pineapple plant
Boiling pineapple skin benefits
Pineapples contain Vitamin C, manganese and even antioxidants. Healthline has a great article on the benefits including reducing cancer risk, aiding digestion, boosting immunity, and suppressing inflammation.
*Note: Wash your pineapple thoroughly, brushing in the crevices before slicing into it! This way you are cooking clean pineapple skins, but aren’t washing off all the juice from the inner parts by rinsing them after slicing.
How to make Pineapple Tea
Making pineapple skin tea may seem intimidating, but it is truly as simple as just boiling pineapple skins. Regardless I have written down the steps for you to easily follow along.
- Wash your pineapple skin carefully, making sure you’re cleaning in all the tricky spots
- Cut and throw away the top and bottom and off as these are the only parts of the pineapple you will not be using.
- Peel the skin off of the pineapple, placing them into a large clean bowl.
- Cut your pineapple as you normally would for snacking.
- Place the core in the bowl with the skins. If you wish to do one final rinse of the skins and core, this is the time to do so.
- Place the skins and core into a pot and fill with water until just covered. Bring to a boil.
- Simmer for 20-30 min. (truth be told, I’ve forgotten about it and let it simmer for 40 min before. All was fine.)
- Let tea cool slightly to avoid burning yourself.
- Strain the tea through a colander.
- Add sweetener of choice and serve warm or over ice!
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Recipe for Pineapple Tea
Ingredients
- Water
- Skins and core of one pineapple
Instructions
- Wash pineapple and peel
- Cover peel and core in a large pot with water
- Simmer 20-30 min
- Enjoy hot or cold!
Materials
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Large pot
- Colander
Pineapple Skin Tea recipe
Ingredients
4 cups of water
1 Pineapple (peel and core)
1 Knob of ginger
1/2 tsp tumeric
2 cinnamon sticks
6-8 whole cloves
1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
Instructions
- Bring 4 cups of water to a boil on the stove
- Thoroughly wash and scrub the skin of your pineapple before peeling it. Be sure to get into all the crevices. You may also do a 20-30 min vinegar soak.
- Peel the pineapple and reserve the peel an core for your tea. Save the flesh for snacking, desserts, or smoothies!
- Place your pineapple peel, ginger, tumeric, cinnamon, and cloves into the water. Bring back to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for 30 min to an hour.
- Pour through a colander.
- Serve hot or cold and add your sweetener of choice! (maple syrup, honey, sugar etc).
Notes
Before peeling the pineapple, you can also do a 20-30 min vinegar soak to kill the bacteria and remove pesticides from the pineapple peel. It will not affect the flavor of your tea.
Add a pinch of black pepper to your cup of tea to help your body absorb the turmeric better.
Use this recipe as a base for any other kind of pineapple tea like this hibiscus pineapple tea.
Pineapple Skin Tea side effects
Very few side effects have been reported, but the NCCIH mentions that the two most common side effects are upset stomach and diarrhea.
If you are sensitive or allergic to pineapple, then this pineapple skin tea recipe can cause an allergic reaction.
The bromelain in pineapple can interact with some medicines including blood thinners and antibiotics. So always check with your doctor first to make sure it is safe to drink with any medications you may be taking.
Pineapple Skin Tea Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Bring 4 cups of water to a boil on the stove
- Thoroughly wash and scrub the skin of your pineapple before peeling it. Be sure to get into all the crevices. You may also do a 20-30 min vinegar soak.
- Peel the pineapple and reserve the peel an core for your tea. Save the flesh for snacking, desserts, or smoothies!
- Place your pineapple peel, ginger, tumeric, cinnamon, and cloves into the water. Bring back to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for 30 min to an hour.
- Pour through a colander.
- Serve hot or cold and add your sweetener of choice! (maple syrup, honey, sugar etc).
I modified it a bit by adding 6 cups of water instead of 4 and added 1/4 tsp of black pepper. It was oh so good!
Is adding the ground version of ginger and tumeric okay?
Yes! I have done this before in a pinch. I just don’t prefer it because I can never strain it out well enough so then I have to drink it in the final cup of tea.
I have also just bought a good ginger and turmeric herbal tea, then added a couple bags to the pot to steep just before serving. I hope this helps!
I have made this before. What is the shelf life for plain tea that’s refrigerated
I would say just a few days. Due to the ingredients, if it goes bad, you’ll know. It’ll start to ferment like any other juice. Definitely keeps peak flavor for a couple days though! I hope this helps!
How often to drink and how much
I usually just drink one cup in tea form (hot with honey), or 1-2 cups with ice as juice (with dinner, snack, or alone). How often is completely up to you! Everyone’s body is different and will not respond to the ingredients the same. It’s just like drinking a good beneficial tea or nutrient packed cup of juice. Hope this helps!