26 January 2024 , 14:58
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There are calls to bring back a fruit that was once a key feature of the traditional English breakfast.
The national dish - traditionally made up of bacon, sausages, eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes - is missing a food item that is grown 5,000 miles away from British shores in South America.
The fruit in question is the exotic pineapple, which has a long history of featuring on British plates, according to the English Breakfast Society. In centuries past, the fruit was seen as a status symbol, and those who gorged on the sweet treat were thought to have a more sophisticated palate.
The society's founder, Guise Bule de Missenden, told The Telegraph: "Interestingly, in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the pineapple was considered to be a high-status breakfast item in Great Britain.
"Pineapples used to be seen as exotic, expensive, difficult to obtain and were a highly prized breakfast ingredient for wealthy English families, which is why you can find lots of old English pineapple breakfast recipes. King Charles himself loved them, so if you wanted to add a touch of the exotic to your plate and eat like a 17th century lord, there is no reason not to give it a try.
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"A slice of grilled pineapple can add variety to the English breakfast plate. Simply swap the mushrooms or tomato for a frilled pineapple slice in someone's English breakfast one day to give them a surprising and unexpected delight."
Despite Mr Bule de Missenden's expertise, many purists aren't convinced, with some still irked about a previous suggestion the society made. The society previously said that hash browns should be binned in favour of bubble and squeak, because it's more traditional and the hash brown was actually popularised by American fast food chain, McDonald's. He added: "Somebody had to put their foot down. Otherwise, we'll find kebab meat in our English breakfast before long."
But the society isn't alone in its support for the pineapple. Dietician Juliette Kello pointed out that tinned fruit retains its nutrients to the same level that fresh fruit does. She said: "Canned pineapple in fruit juice is a great choice - just two rings count as one of our five daily portions."
Pineapples were first introduced to Europe by Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. He stumbled upon the strange, spiny fruit when he reached Guadeloupe in 1493. On his return, the pineapple quickly became a firm favourite in Spain's royal court.