In 2017 I was traveling in Suriname with my family and we climbed the Ananasberg. This week I walked past the flower shop around the corner and saw a beautiful pineapple plant there. When I see pineapple plants, I immediately think back to that holiday in Suriname. This plant gives me the ultimate summer feeling. With this tropical week ahead, I couldn't resist.
The Ananasberg is located far inland of Suriname. You sail upstream on the canoe Upper Suriname river. A fairly challenging walk starts from the walking path near the village of Bendekonde on the Pikin Rio and that path takes you further and further into the jungle. We passed impressive forest giants, farming plots of Maroon women and occasionally we had to give way to a column of carrier ants. After walking for a while in the shady forest, we suddenly found ourselves staring at a bare rock in the blinding light of the sun: the Pineapple Mountain!
Climbing a mountain in the tropical heat is usually quite a challenge. In that respect, the Ananasberg was not too bad compared to the climb of the much steeper one Tebutop, which is located near the indigenous village of Apetina on the Tapanahony River.
On the way to the top of the mountain, the local boys had already split off because they immediately started looking for pineapples. Because yes, pineapples grow on the Ananasberg. And how lucky we were, apparently we were on the mountain at a fertile moment. They found more than 10 pineapples!
Prince Kukcy – our guide – taught my sons: how do I clean a forest pineapple? You have to be quite handy because the pineapples from the jungle have large crowns with large spines. According to custom, you can only eat the fruits on the mountain and you are not allowed to take them with you, so we had to improvise with a dull pocket knife and Kukcy's hack. The pineapples were deliciously sweet and juicy. After a vitamin-rich break we were able to descend again full of energy.
I cannot harvest my new pineapple plant in the garden for the time being. The question is whether the fruit will eventually become edible. But I can enjoy the sultry summer evenings this week and dream away in my hammock with all the memories of that holiday in Suriname with a view of my own pineapple plant. And oh yes, according to my florist it works the plant is very good against snoring, when you put it in your bedroom. Opinions on the internet are strongly divided as to whether it really works. Fortunately, according to my husband, I don't snore...
Happy summer everyone!
Suzette
Suzette Eeltink
