What is the ‘kew’ variety of pineapples that Tripura CM Manik Saha sent to Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina?

Kew variety is a late-maturing pineapple variety and is the leading commercial variety in India, said registered dietitian Garima Goyal who added that it is valued particularly for its canning quality or can be preserved in a can for longer. “Fruit weighs 2-3 kgs, and is oblong in shape. It slightly tapers towards the crown. Eyes are broad and shallow making the fruit more suitable for canning. The fruit is yellow when fully ripe. The flesh is light yellow, almost fibreless, and very juicy with 0.6-1.2 per cent acid, and its TSS content (sugar content measures which include carbohydrates, organic acids, proteins, fats and minerals of the fruit) varies from 12-16 brix,” said Goyal.

Grown in warmer and humid climates at about 15 degrees to 32 degrees Celsius, the variety just like other fruits is rich in antioxidants, said Goyal.

“The ascorbic acid content of kew or giant kew variety of pineapple varies from 6.1 to 2.6 mg /100g of edible portion. The total soluble solid content in the fruits of cultivar kew increases gradually and is maximum (16.5 per cent) at the ripening stage,” Goyal said.

Carotene, which is a precursor of vitamin A, is found in most of the fruits in varying quantities. “Pineapple is a good source of carotene. The pineapple fruits contained 13.0 percent sugar. Sugars are related with sweetness, flavour, colour, and structure of fruits,” mentioned Goyal.

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