This pineapple skin tea recipe is my favourite way to get more from my pineapples! Have you ever cut up your pineapple and wondered if there is a way to use all the bits you throw away? Well, there is! And it's:
Simple
Delicious
Can be enjoyed hot or cold
And allows you to get more for your money!
Preparing The Pineapple
I never really thought twice about peeling the skins off of many of the fruits and vegetables I eat. I never liked throwing them away but I assumed they are just not meant to be eaten.
With a greater emphasis on reducing food waste in the last few years I feel as though we are learning more and more about the benefits of consuming many fruit and vegetable peels. Not only do we create less waste, there is often a higher concentration of vitamins, minerals, and especially fibre in the peels.
This Healthline article gives a quick summary of consuming fruit and vegetable peels. It actually mentions that pineapple peels along with some other tough skinned fruits like melons and avocados can be difficult to wash and too tough to eat. It also addresses the need to wash peels well to minimize any contaminants.
- Buying organic produce when consuming the peels can minimize the contaminants present on the skin.
- Use a ripe pineapple for this recipe.
- Thoroughly wash the skin of the pineapple. You can use a clean vegetable brush to scrub the skin of the pineapple and you can soak the pineapple in a solution of vinegar and water for 15-30 minutes.
- You can use the brown/green tough exterior peel for this recipe. Alternatively, I often discard this very outermost layer and use the next layer of yellow flesh that has the spiky fibrous "eyes" that are unpleasant to eat and painstaking to remove.
- Also use the tough core of the pineapple for this recipe.
Watch the video in the recipe card for a demonstration on how to remove the skin and core of a pineapple if you aren't a pineapple peeling pro.
How To Make Pineapple Skin Tea
Add your pineapple skin and core to a large pot and cover with 6 cups of cold filtered water.
Add in some additional flavourings. In this pineapple skin tea recipe I use:
- 1 cinnamon stick.
- ¾ teaspoon ground turmeric.
- ½ inch sliced ginger
Bring the water to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cover the pot and simmer on low for 25 minutes.
After 25 minutes, sweeten the tea if desired. I use:
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Boil the tea for an additional 5 minutes then remove from the heat. Strain the tea and enjoy hot or refrigerate until cool for an iced tea!
Recipe Cost
Besides being delicious, this pineapple skin tea recipe is super thrifty because you have likely purchased your pineapple to enjoy in other ways! Whether you bought your pineapple to enjoy the fruit on its own or you are making another dish like my Pineapple Quinoa Stir-Fry, this tea feels like a bonus.
In addition to the pineapple, this recipe only costs us approximately 30 cents Canadian!
This recipe yields 5 ½ cups of tea so it can be enjoyed a few times by you or you can share with family or friends.
Let me know in the comments below if you enjoy a hot pineapple tea or a refreshing iced tea on a summery day!
Print
Pineapple Skin Ginger Turmeric Tea
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 5 ½ cups 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Get more from your fruit with this delicious pineapple skin tea recipe! Boil for 30 min with immune boosting additions & enjoy hot or cold!
Ingredients
- 1 pineapple, skin and core only (see description)*
- 6 cups filtered water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ¾ tsp ground turmeric
- Pinch of black pepper (for better turmeric absorption)
- 1 inch ginger, sliced
- 1 tbsp maple syrup (or sweetener of choice)
*Fresh ingredients you need that are not part of our pantry and freezer tips.
Instructions
*Consider using an organic pineapple to minimize contaminants in the skin of the fruit. Wash the skin thoroughly before beginning (soaking in a vinegar and water solution for 15-30 minutes is a good way to throughly wash the pineapple). Use a ripe pineapple for this recipe and you can use the tough brown/green outer skin OR slice away the tough outer skin and use the next layer of pineapple with the fibrous spikey “eyes” which are not the most enjoyable to eat. You will also use the woody core of the pineapple for this recipe.
- Carefully slice away the skin of the pineapple and set aside.
- Cut the pineapple into rounds or half moons depending on how you will be enjoying the fruit. Then cut the woody centre core away from the slices of fruit.
- Add the pineapple skins and core to a large pot and cover with 6 cups cold filtered water.
- Add the cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper, and ginger. *If using fresh turmeric use about 2 tsp. If using powdered ginger use ¼ - ½ tsp. Fresh ginger and turmeric don't need to be peeled if you have washed the skins.
- Bring the water to a boil. Then reduce to a low simmer and simmer with the lid on for 25 minutes.
- Add the maple syrup or sweetener of choice and simmer for an additional 5 minutes to dissolve the sweetener.
- Remove the tea from the heat and strain the liquid. Either enjoy the tea warm or allow to cool and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
- For a hot tea simply warm up the liquid in a pot or in the microwave and serve with a cinnamon stick if desired.
- For an iced tea, add some ice cubes to a glass, top with the cold tea and garnish with fresh pineapple!
Notes
Approximate Cost: This recipe costs us an extra $0.30 CAD in addition to the pineapple we have purchased to enjoy on its own or as part of another recipe like our Pineapple Quinoa Stir-Fry!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: drinks
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Canadian
Gary
I just made this and it was such a nice change to my summer iced tea rotation! Thank you for the recipe.
Kathryn Alexandre
I'm so glad you liked it! Thank you for trying it and for the lovely star rating!
Marcie
Hi! Just made this for my daughter and I and we enjoyed it iced out by the pool 🙂 cheers from Colorado - Marcie
Kathryn Alexandre
Oh wonderful! Thank you so much for letting me know you both loved it! That sounds like a lovely way to enjoy it!
Anglea
I love this recipe! Taste very good and I can feel it working internal. This is a perfect remedy to partake especially in the Fall and Winter season with helping keeping the immune system up and combating cold, flu and virus!
Kathryn Alexandre
I'm so glad you like this recipe and feel as though it's giving your immune system a boost! Thank you so much for the lovely star rating and for giving this recipe a try!
Carol
I love all of the ingredients but I am concerned with boiling process killing all of the nutrients of those ingredients So I am just enjoying this for its taste and little benefit to my body
Kathryn Alexandre
I'm glad you enjoy the taste and love the ingredients. You could potentially store it with some fresh ginger or stir in some fresh ginger or turmeric juice just before you have it to give it a boost of fresh ingredients!
Midori
I used your recipe with pineapple I purchased straight from the local market place in Kailua, Kona HI. My husband and I love it. Thank you for sharing your healthy tea alternative! Mahalo and Aloha!
Kathryn Alexandre
Mahalo! I'm so glad you love it. Thank you so much for trying it and letting me know it was a hit! Enjoy 😊
Chrysii
I just made this and its delicious. I can't to try it chilled.
Kathryn Alexandre
So glad you like it! I love it chilled so I really hope you enjoy it too. Thank you so much for letting me know you've tried it and for leaving a star review!
Michelle Wood
Absolutely love this! Thank you so much for sharing. I can feel it helping my body!
Kathryn Alexandre
I'm so glad you love it! Thank you so much for trying it and taking the time to leave a review and star rating. Enjoy your tea!
Mary F
I love this tea. Make it all the time for my self during the cold and winter season. Is it safe for pregnant people. I don’t see why not
Kathryn Alexandre
I'm glad you've been loving this tea! I can't be sure about its safety during pregnancy though. I don't think any of these ingredients are harmful as long as they are consumed in moderation (it seems like it's advised to avoid turmeric supplements but small doses of the spice in natural form seem to be fine). If a doctor or someone supporting nutrition during pregnancy could be consulted then it is probably best to make sure with them. (If you do get an answer from a medical professional and want to update us here then this might be helpful for others to know). Thank you!
Pat
Just made it will it help with weight loss
Kathryn Alexandre
I'm glad you like it! Thank you for trying it.
Brigitte
Very nice, I drank it cold and I don't think it could be improved.
Perfect!
Kathryn Alexandre
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Brigitte! It’s so refreshing cold!
Suhashini
Check out tepache, a fermented drink made from pineapple peel. Another way to use it up.
Kathryn Alexandre
Yes, thank you! I have heard of tepache and I will definitely have to try it!