One of the most unexpected things that visitors to Sao Miguel Island in the Azores will find is…that’s right, pineapple plantations!

Despite a mild, rainy, and temperate climate that doesn’t invoke the places where pineapples are normally grown, the industry is quite popular and well-known on this small Portuguese island. Pineapples here, known as ananas, are grown in greenhouses that are carefully climate-controlled to ensure a good crop.

The temperature in these greenhouses must be kept at a delicate balance between 65 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during different stages of the growing cycle in order to produce a fruit that is neither too sour nor too sweet. This is done by the application of light-blocking materials that are either left up or taken down in order to raise or lower the temperature.

These pineapples are well-known for being sweet, small, and extra succulent. They are a commodity throughout the world, where they can be difficult to find due to the relatively small yield.

Have you ever tried an Azorean pineapple before?

The post The Way Pineapples are Grown in the Azores is Fascinating appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

While these are certainly the most common locations in which pineapples are grown, many are surprised to find out that some of the world’s most delicious pineapples are cultivated on the Portuguese island of Sao Miguel, located in the Azores island chain in the Atlantic Ocean.

Pineapples are not native to this island, but the island’s favorable and stable climate allows for the tropical fruit to be grown in an oceanic, non-tropical location.

The only difference between traditional pineapple farms and the pineapple farms on Sao Miguel are that the pineapples grown here must be raised in greenhouses.

These greenhouses trap the heat produced by the sunlight on the island, raising the temperature to a sufficiently high level which favors the cultivation of the fruit.

Azoran pineapples are smaller than traditional pineapples, but don’t let their size fool you. They are extremely sweet and are considered a delicacy that is served as a dessert in Portugal.

If you ever have the chance, be sure to try an Azorean Pineapple and experience the delectable, tropical sweetness that comes from a place that isn’t even in the tropics!

The post Did You Know that Pineapples Also Grow in Portugal? appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

This dish, Cozido das furnas, is prepared underground in a volcanic hot spring.

Cozido is a popular dish throughout Portugal, but the residents of a town called Furnas have put their own spin on the dish that creates a memorable dish whose flavor and preparation are truly unforgettable.

The chefs begin their preparation of cozido das furnas very early in the morning, around 5 o’clock. They add pork, chouriço and blood sausage, beef, cabbage, yams, carrots, and potatoes to a pot.

What comes next is the interesting part: these pots are covered and lowered into the sulfuric hot springs that are spread out throughout the town of Furnas. There, they are left for several hours to cook in the boiling hot conditions under they are ready for consumption around lunchtime.

Cozido das furnas is then removed from the ground and served for lunch. While it is traditionally a home-cooked meal, nowadays, many restaurants in Furnas serve this dish to locals and tourists alike.

The meat and vegetables take on a unique sulfurous taste that is emitted from the hot springs. While it sounds strange, it creates a delicious and unique meal that every visitor should try at least once.

The post Would You Try This Volcanic Hot Spring-Cooked Dish? appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

One of the most unexpected things that visitors to Sao Miguel Island in the Azores will find is…that’s right, pineapple plantations!

Despite a mild, rainy, and temperate climate that doesn’t invoke the places where pineapples are normally grown, the industry is quite popular and well-known on this small Portuguese island. Pineapples here, known as ananas, are grown in greenhouses that are carefully climate-controlled to ensure a good crop.

The temperature in these greenhouses must be kept at a delicate balance between 65 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during different stages of the growing cycle in order to produce a fruit that is neither too sour nor too sweet. This is done by the application of light-blocking materials that are either left up or taken down in order to raise or lower the temperature.

These pineapples are well-known for being sweet, small, and extra succulent. They are a commodity throughout the world, where they can be difficult to find due to the relatively small yield.

Have you ever tried an Azorean pineapple before?

The post The Way Pineapples are Grown in the Azores is Fascinating appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

While these are certainly the most common locations in which pineapples are grown, many are surprised to find out that some of the world’s most delicious pineapples are cultivated on the Portuguese island of Sao Miguel, located in the Azores island chain in the Atlantic Ocean.

Pineapples are not native to this island, but the island’s favorable and stable climate allows for the tropical fruit to be grown in an oceanic, non-tropical location.

The only difference between traditional pineapple farms and the pineapple farms on Sao Miguel are that the pineapples grown here must be raised in greenhouses.

These greenhouses trap the heat produced by the sunlight on the island, raising the temperature to a sufficiently high level which favors the cultivation of the fruit.

Azoran pineapples are smaller than traditional pineapples, but don’t let their size fool you. They are extremely sweet and are considered a delicacy that is served as a dessert in Portugal.

If you ever have the chance, be sure to try an Azorean Pineapple and experience the delectable, tropical sweetness that comes from a place that isn’t even in the tropics!

The post Did You Know that Pineapples Also Grow in Portugal? appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

This dish, Cozido das furnas, is prepared underground in a volcanic hot spring.

Cozido is a popular dish throughout Portugal, but the residents of a town called Furnas have put their own spin on the dish that creates a memorable dish whose flavor and preparation are truly unforgettable.

The chefs begin their preparation of cozido das furnas very early in the morning, around 5 o’clock. They add pork, chouriço and blood sausage, beef, cabbage, yams, carrots, and potatoes to a pot.

What comes next is the interesting part: these pots are covered and lowered into the sulfuric hot springs that are spread out throughout the town of Furnas. There, they are left for several hours to cook in the boiling hot conditions under they are ready for consumption around lunchtime.

Cozido das furnas is then removed from the ground and served for lunch. While it is traditionally a home-cooked meal, nowadays, many restaurants in Furnas serve this dish to locals and tourists alike.

The meat and vegetables take on a unique sulfurous taste that is emitted from the hot springs. While it sounds strange, it creates a delicious and unique meal that every visitor should try at least once.

The post Would You Try This Volcanic Hot Spring-Cooked Dish? appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.