Exploring Pineapple Plantations in São Miguel Azores: The Ultimate Guide
Did You Know They Grow Pineapples In The Azores?
When it comes to growing pineapples, the Azores isn’t the first place that comes to mind for most people. Hawaii, Costa Rica, Moorea, Indonesia maybe, but São Miguel in the Azores? Really? Yes!
Surprisingly, there are 230 pineapple producers and 1500 greenhouses scattered around the island, some of them open to the public for tours and tastings. Together they produce between 700 and 1000 tons of the delicious fruit each year.
We experienced two of the most popular plantations on the island and loved learning about this wonderful fruit. This blog will tell you all about the Azorean pineapple and the experience you can expect while visiting a pineapple plantation in São Miguel, Azores.
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Highlights of Visiting Pineapple Plantations
✅ Learn about the history of the pineapple in this region and how the growing process has been adapted to the environment
✅ Tour real working farms and see the pineapples in various growth stages
✅ Taste some amazing drinks and treats made with fresh fruit grown on the farm
Why Pineapples?
You might be wondering why pineapples are grown in the Azores since their production is normally associated with tropical climates. And, while the Azorean climate is quite temperate, it is not tropical, and for that matter, pineapples are not even native to the Azores – they are indigenous to South America.
To understand why pineapples are so abundant in the Azores, and particularly São Miguel, we need to go back about two hundred years. That’s when Ananos Comosus (the scientific name for pineapple) was originally introduced to the island from South America.
The particular variant of pineapple introduced to the Azores was “Smooth Cayenne”, and it was brought in as an ornamental plant in the early 1800s. It was just around this time when orange production, the Azores main agricultural crop, was devastated by a fungus called Gomose.
Since the export of oranges to mainland Portugal and other places in Europe was so important to the economy of the Azores, a substitute needed to be found. And that substitute was the pineapple.
The very first twelve boxes of pineapples were exported to England on November 12, 1864 by Jose Bensaúde who was the original pineapple grower in the Azores. By the early 20th century, pineapples were being exported to England, Germany and Russia.
✅ For a full-day tour that provides an excellent overview of the western part of the island, Lagoa do Fogo and a pineapple plantation, check out this private tour that will be an amazing day.
What Makes The Azorean Pineapple Unique?
Unlike more traditional pineapple-growing countries, pineapples in the Azores are not grown outside. Instead, they are grown in specially built wood and glass greenhouses where the temperature, moisture and light are carefully controlled throughout the life-cycle of the plant.
This tightly controlled environment with soils that are enriched with organic materials and free from pesticides or insecticides provides the perfect eco-system for quality and flavour.
And the greenhouse eco-system is low-tech and sustainable! To manage the quantity of light and intensity of heat that the pineapples are exposed to, the glass roofs of the greenhouses are whitewashed at different times of the year.
Moisture content is also controlled in the greenhouses, by opening or closing the windows, depending on the humidity needs of the plants.
And external tanks used to capture rainwater from the frequent rainfall on São Miguel Island, make the process of irrigating the pineapples even more sustainable.
The Process Of Growing An Azorean Pineapple
It takes a lot of effort and special care to grow the perfect pineapple, and it actually starts from a piece of harvested fruit. The rhizome, or root stalk, from a mature pineapple, is extracted and used to begin a new production cycle.
- The rhizome is planted in a starting greenhouse and left to grow for approximately six months. At this point shoots from the rhizome have begun to grow and are removed and transplanted in another greenhouse where they are allowed to grow for another six months when they are pruned to encourage more roots to grow.
- Two root stalks will be taken from each plant and allowed to grow for six to eight more months before the plant is transplanted to a permanent greenhouse where it will remain until it is ready to be harvested.
- In the final process, the plants are smoked using a traditional method of placing metal barrels filled with wood chips, dried banana leaves and dried herbs in the central aisle of the greenhouse and burning them. The smoke that is produced contains high levels of ethylene which forces the plants to blossom.
This extensive process is essential to producing a consistent and uniform crop of pineapples. The entire lifecycle of the pineapple from when it is first planted to the time it is ready to be harvested takes approximately two years. But the wait is definitely worth it.
✅ If you only have a half day for a tour – this is a perfect option that covers the beautiful western side of the island plus the Arruda pineapple plantation. It is a highly rated small group tour.
What Do Azorean Pineapples Taste Like?
Because of the controlled environment that they are grown in, Azorean pineapples have a very consistent taste. While they have less sugar than commercial pineapples grown in other areas, they are still sweet and juicy.
They are also rich in magnesium, potassium, iron, and zinc. Azorean pineapples also contain a higher concentration of Bromelain than traditional pineapples which is a natural anti-inflammatory group of enzymes.
Insider Tip
Here’s a tip that we learned about eating pineapples while we were at a plantation in Ponta Delgada. Since the sweetest part of the pineapple is at the bottom of the fruit near the stem, slice the fruit lengthwise when serving it. That way everyone will get an equal amount of the sweetest part of the fruit.
Visiting A Pineapple Plantation On São Miguel In The Azores
While there are lots of pineapple plantations on the island, not all of them are open to the public. We visited two of the most famous ones, both easily accessible from Ponta Delgada.
Plantaçāo Ananases A Arruda
This plantation, translated to English as Augusto Arruda Pineapple Plantation, is a short 10-minute drive from downtown Ponta Delgada. This stop is often included with tours of the Sete Cidades region.
It was started in the early 20th century by Augusto Arruda and is now operated by his 5th generation descendants. A bust of the original owner is featured in the courtyard near the plantation entrance.
Tours of the plantation are available or you can choose to walk around on your own and discover the different stages of the growing process.
The plantation features a gift shop where you can purchase a variety of pineapple based products like pineapple liqueur (based on the plantation’s own recipe), jam as well as a variety of local handcrafts.
There is also a tasting kiosk if you want to try some of the delicious fruit or its juice. And who wouldn’t?
Plantaçāo de Ananás dos Açores
If you are staying in Ponta Delgada and don’t have a car then Plantacao de Ananas dos Acores is the pineapple plantation to visit. We were able to walk here from our hotel near the waterfront in about 20 minutes.
Like the Arruda plantation, this one is also open to the public and is perfect for self-guided tours.
There is a metal building near the entrance that is set up with a chronological display of the pineapple growing process. It is quite extensive and informative and includes QR codes at each station that provide you with detailed information on what you are looking at.
You are encouraged to visit the various greenhouses to see the different growth stages of the pineapple. Doors to the greenhouses that you can enter are left unlocked.
After visiting the greenhouses, be sure to visit their tasting bar and restaurant which is located inside a large tent.
Here you can try a variety of delicious pineapple treats all made right here. Aside from the actual fruit and its juice, you can also enjoy pineapple liquor, pineapple beer, custard tarts, toasts and their own pineapple ice cream.
We indulged in some of the traditional fruit, a pineapple flambé with ice cream, a pineapple cocktail and a pineapple beer. What a great way to end our pineapple plantation visit!
Because of its location and easy access, the informative and educational function of its layout and the extensive menu of pineapple delicacies at its restaurant, we found this to be our best pineapple plantation in São Miguel.
The Final Word…Pineapple Plantations In São Miguel
While São Miguel in the Azores is known for its temperate climate, magnificent landscape and spectacular views we think you should discover a lesser known aspect of the island – the Azores pineapple!
The people here consider it be the best pineapple in the world and they could be right. The meticulous growing process in a controlled but sustainable environment ensures a consistent and delicious fruit every time. Why not come to the Azores and try it for yourself?
