This pineapple skin tea combines the power of pineapple peel, turmeric, ginger, honey, and more for a sweet, flavorful anti-inflammatory tea!
After years as a food blogger, I’m always on the hunt for ways to reduce my food waste. This pineapple skin tea is something I stumbled upon recently, and I’m so sorry that it’s taken me this long to discover – all that pineapple peel I could have transformed into delicious, flavorful anti-inflammatory tea (aka pineapple tea)!
This pineapple skin tea is inspired by a popular traditional Jamaican similar drink combining pineapple peel with ginger, orange/lemon juice, and several other additions. Luckily, it’s now in my life, I added a couple of extra ingredients, and I think you very well may love it as much as I do.
I’m no stranger to combining turmeric and ginger for their excellent health and anti-inflammatory benefits (like these Ginger Turmeric Energy Shots, One-Pot Turmeric, Ginger &Pumpkin Soup, and Simple Golden Spice (Golden Milk Powder). However, the addition of pineapple peel adds extra flavor and anti-inflammatory benefits to the tea!
Pineapple Skin Benefits
Pineapple contains (including the pineapple peel and core) a powerful enzyme called bromelain. Bromelain is a protein-digesting enzyme with anti-inflammatory benefits and has been used medicinally for centuries.
Currently, bromelain is used for several purposes – when ingested, it is likely to reduce inflammation and swelling of the nasal passages and throat. However, it also helps prevent blood clotting and encourages the formation of new red blood cells, which may be beneficial for treating cardiovascular diseases.
There have also been several studies to show that bromelain has the potential to help with several inflammation-related diseases. These include osteoarthritis, asthma, chronic sinusitis, colitis, and even cancer.
It is also rich in immune-boosting vitamin C and may also help with digestion issues and fighting intestinal parasites.
Top Tip: It’s important to note that bromelain can interact with several medications, including anticoagulants and antibiotics. If you’re unsure, then it’s always best to consult a medical doctor before trying this pineapple tea.
Top Tips For Pineapple Peel Tea
- Make sure to thoroughly wash the pineapple before using the pineapple peel (method included below).
- You can collect pineapple scraps in a bag in the freezer until you’re ready to make a batch of this pineapple tea.
- Add a pinch of black pepper to each serving of tea (you won’t taste it). This is needed to help our bodies fully absorb the turmeric nutrients.
The Ingredients
- Pineapple peel: use the core too for even more bromelain
- Orange & lemon: make sure to use fresh orange and lemon juice. I used a blood orange since I had one in my house. Feel free to use regular orange instead. You can optionally add that peel to the tea too, but I usually use it for this Non-Toxic Natural All-Purpose Citrus Cleaner.
- Aromatics: ginger and turmeric. I prefer to use fresh rather than powdered for this pineapple tea, so you don’t have the ground spice’s sediment in the liquid.
- Herbs & spices: cinnamon sticks, cayenne pepper (optional) or black pepper (to help our bodies absorb the curcumin in turmeric), and rosemary. You can experiment with other herbs that pair well with pineapple, too – mint, lemon basil, basil, sage, etc.
- Sweetener: I used honey. For a vegan option, you could use maple syrup.
Chef’s note: All of these ingredients were carefully chosen for their flavor as well as their health benefits. For example, cinnamon has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral properties while boosting gut health, digestive health, and lowering blood pressure and sugar levels. Meanwhile, cayenne pepper is metabolism-boosting, can lower blood pressure, aids digestive health, has anti-cancer properties, and may even relieve pain. So, all of the ingredients boost the pineapple tea benefits!
How To Make Pineapple Skin Tea
Step 1: Clean the pineapple
It’s essential to clean the pineapple skin thoroughly. You can do this by scrubbing the pineapple thoroughly with a vegetable brush. I like to do a vinegar soak – which helps to remove bacteria and pesticides from the skin.
Fill a large pot with enough water to submerge the pineapple body and add 1-2 tablespoon of vinegar – this shouldn’t affect the pineapple’s flavor.
Allow it to soak for between 20-30 minutes, then rinse well with clean water.
Step 2: Remove the peel
Pat the rinsed pineapple dry and then remove the peel with a sharp paring knife. You can also use the pineapple core (I didn’t this time as I was using whole slices for a recipe, for presentation).
The pineapple flesh can be eaten as a snack or stored in the fridge/freezer to make smoothies.
Step 3: Prepare the remaining ingredients
Prepare the ginger and turmeric roots by washing and peeling them and then grating them using a garlic grating dish or a fine grater.
You can slice them and slightly ‘bruise’ them by bashing with the knife handle’s hilt, but I find that the flavors infuse much better when grated.
Do this step with gloves on as the turmeric WILL stain your skin.
Then, juice the lemon and oranges – you can do this with an electric or manual juicer.
Step 4: Brew the pineapple tea
Add all of the ingredients (except the honey) into a large pot with water and heat over medium heat. Bring to a boil and then allow to simmer for an hour – the longer it simmers, the more flavorful it will become.
Step 5: Sieve and decant the pineapple skin tea
Allow the tea to cool down slightly before you sieve it and transfer it to bottles.
Optionally, forego the sieve and remove the large pieces of pineapple skin and the rosemary. However, you will then have some remaining pulp in the drink.
You can add a little sweetener now (I used honey), or just before serving it, or omit this entirely.
The pineapple tea is then ready to drink immediately or store for later.
How To Serve
You can enjoy the anti-inflammatory warm or cold. It can be enjoyed alone or added to other drinks, including lemonade and cocktails in place of pineapple juice.
How To Store
Fridge: Store the leftover pineapple skin tea in airtight glass containers (so they don’t stain) in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
Freeze: The pineapple tea can also be frozen into ice-cubes to add to drinks or thaw and consume.
How to use the leftover pulp?
After removing the rosemary and cinnamon sticks from the anti-inflammatory tea, there’s no need to discard the leftover pulp. This can still be used in several ways:
To create a pineapple juice: While lots of the flavor will be in the brewed tea, you can add all of the leftover pulp to a blender with some water and then sieve for a juice. As you haven’t ‘squeezed’ the peel before, there should still be plenty of flavor left to work with.
Blended into pulp: Blend the pineapple peel and leftover ginger and turmeric sediment into a pulpy mush. This can be frozen into ice cubes and then used in several ways.
- To add to smoothies.
- Add to marinades and stocks.
- To make a single portion of hot tea.
Related Recipes
If you try this Pineapple Skin Tea recipe, then let me know your thoughts and questions in the comments. I’d also really appreciate a recipe rating and would love to see your recreations – just tag @AlphaFoodie.
Pineapple Peel Tea
Ingredients
- 17 cups water
- 1 pineapple large, the peel and core
- 2 oranges any variety
- 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoon turmeric grated
- 3 tablespoon ginger grated
- 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper or fresh black pepper (for absorbing turmeric nutrients)
- 2 sprigs rosemary or thyme, basil, lemon thyme, etc.
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 tablespoon honey optional, can be added in teaspoons when serving the tea. OR maple syrup for vegan.
Instructions
Step 1: Clean the pineapple
- It's essential to clean the pineapple skin thoroughly. You can do this by scrubbing the pineapple thoroughly with a vegetable brush. I like to do a vinegar soak – which helps to remove bacteria and pesticides from the skin.Fill a large pot with enough water to submerge the pineapple body and add 1-2 tablespoon of vinegar – this shouldn't affect the pineapple's flavor.Allow it to soak for between 20-30 minutes, then rinse well with clean water.
Step 2: Remove the peel
- Pat the rinsed pineapple dry and then remove the peel with a sharp paring knife. You can also use the pineapple core.The pineapple flesh can be eaten as a snack or stored in the fridge/freezer to make smoothies.
Step 3: Prepare the remaining ingredients
- Prepare the ginger and turmeric roots by washing and peeling them and then grating them using a garlic grating dish or a fine grater. Do this step with gloves on as the turmeric WILL stain your skin.You can alternatively slice them and slightly 'bruise' the pieces by bashing with the knife handle's hilt, but I find that the flavors infuse much better when grated.
- Juice the lemon and oranges.
Step 4: Brew the pineapple tea
- Add all of the ingredients (except the honey) into a large pot with water and heat over medium heat. Bring to a boil and then allow to simmer for an hour – the longer it simmers, the more flavorful it will become.
Step 5: Sieve and decant the pineapple skin tea
- Allow the tea to cool down slightly before you sieve it and transfer it to bottles.Optionally, forego the sieve and remove the large pieces of pineapple skin and the rosemary. However, you will then have some remaining pulp in the drink.
- You can add a little sweetener now (I used honey), or just before serving it, or omit this entirely.The pineapple tea is then ready to drink immediately or store for later.
How To Serve
- You can enjoy the pineapple tea warm or cold. It can be enjoyed alone or added to other drinks, including lemonade and cocktails in place of pineapple juice.
How To Store
- Fridge: Store the leftover pineapple skin tea in airtight glass containers (so they don't stain) in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.Freeze: The pineapple tea can also be frozen into ice-cubes to add to drinks or thaw and consume for between 1-2 months.
Video
Notes
- Make sure to thoroughly wash the pineapple before using the pineapple peel (method included below).
- You can collect pineapple scraps in a bag in the freezer until you’re ready to make a batch of this pineapple tea.
- Add a pinch of black pepper to each serving of tea (you won’t taste it). This is needed to help our bodies fully absorb the turmeric nutrients.
- There’s no need to throw out the boiled pineapple skins – read the FAQ just above this recipe card on ways to use the leftover boiled ingredients.
Danyell
This recipe is absolutely amazing! I made the recipe today and just finished a cup and the tea was so delicious and flavorful The slight kick of the Cayenne pepper took it to another level! I didn’t add the honey to the whole pot just a teaspoon to my single cup that I poured. I’m not quite sure if it will help with the inflammation as of yet, but I’m really enjoying this tea, and will be making again!
Support @ Alphafoodie
So happy you are enjoying the recipe, Danyell! Cheers!
Kimberly
I don’t have access to fresh turmeric or ginger right now. Can I sub dried and if so how much? I have made a version of this before but I had fresh ginger and turmeric at the time.
Support @ Alphafoodie
Hi Kimberly,
You can omit the turmeric and ginger. If using them in dried powder form, you can use about 0.5-1 Tbsp turmeric powder and about 1 Tbsp ginger powder. Feel free to adjust to taste as well. I hope this helps.
Kelli
Is it possible to use dried turmeric and ginger? If so, any idea on what the substitution would be? Thanks.
Support @ Alphafoodie
Hi Kelli,
You can omit the ginger and turmeric. If using them in dried powder form, you can use about 0.5-1 Tbsp turmeric powder and about 1 Tbsp ginger powder. Feel free to adjust to taste as well. I hope this helps.
arbaz khan
I was impressed by the level of detail and quality of information on this website, truly a valuable resource!
Support @ Alphafoodie
Thanks.
Queenjen
I’m on my second batch of this wonderful tea! I suffer from wheezing in the sinuses which is so loud at night it keeps me awake. Not anymore! A couple of mouthfuls of this tea before bed and no sinus issues, thank you! I’m also going to make a quercetin tea from lemon and grapefruit peel which is a powerhouse that assists the body absorb zinc: so the perfect remedy if you feel a cold or flu coming on. I will now be securely armed against viral infections with these wonderful safe and effective remedies. A big plus for me in the news today in Queensland, Australia is that we are about to experience an enormous glut of pineapples, due to a once in 30 years ‘mass flowering’ event. I’m stoked and my freezer will be replete with delicious pineapples and pineapple tea. Thankyou again for sharing this brilliant remedy.
Support @ Alphafoodie
Thank you so much for your comment. So happy to hear you liked the recipe. This is so exciting having all these pineapples – enjoy!
EM
I’d read somewhere about using the pineapple skin to make tea and stumbled upon your recipe. SO FRIGGIN GOOD!! I will be making this for years to come! Thank you for sharing!!
Support @ Alphafoodie
So happy you’ll give this a try <3
Sonia
Can this tea lower my sugar levels???
Can someone comment on this?
Thanks
Support @ Alphafoodie
Hi Sonia,
It’s best to consult with your medical professional if you are worried about sugar levels. After all, this tea does contain fruit and honey in it.
Rebecca
I am very happy to have taken the time to read your recipe. Generally I don’t like too, nor trust many. But this one sounds trustworthy from my perspective and previous research. Thank you for the good work.
Support @ Alphafoodie
Thank you so much for your comment, Rebecca. I hope you give it a try 🙂
Susan
Hi there 🙂 I am so so glad did you put the black pepper and there and why. A lot of people do not do that. I love this tea and I actually add dried hibiscus leaves when I’m cooking it and cloves and fresh rosemary and sometimes some other odds and ends I have around. Thank you for your Recipes. Blessings
Support @ Alphafoodie
Thank you so much for your comment, Susan 🙂 Adding dried hibiscus sounds delicious!
Viveo
Tastes great with honey. I just starting drinking it so not sure about the benefits yet. BTW, there was no FAQ section above the recipe card. What can be done with the boiled peels?
Support @ Alphafoodie
Hi Viveo,
You can blend the pulp and then add it to smoothies, marinades and stocks. There are more tips in the section “how to use the leftover pulp” here on the post. I hope this helps.
Amy
This looks fantastic and I’m so happy to learn about the healthy benefits of pineapple skins! I have a question: have you ever tried to ferment this beverage? I’m thinking it might taste really great with a little FIZZ. Thanks! I’m glad I discovered your blog!
Support @ Alphafoodie
Hi Amy,
I haven’t tried fermenting this tea but I have made Tepache De Piña (pineapple) – maybe you want to give it a try: https://www.alphafoodie.com/tepache-de-pina/
Karrie
So I tweaked this a little bit replacing rosemary with 5-8 cloves and adding one large apple cored and sliced. I sweeten with 1.5tsp of monkfruit to cut back on sugar. I drink 6-8oz over ice every morning or extra whenever I’m feeling a little achy. My results have been astonishing. For a good healthy boost put in 16oz shaker bottle packed with ice, 6-8oz of tea, 1-2tsp monkfruit, a dropper full of chlorophyll, acacia and ashwaghanda and drink on an empty stomach! 10:10 recommended
Support @ Alphafoodie
Thank you for the recommendation, Karrie. I will have to try it out! 🙂
Deneice
Thank you, for your version. I was drinking a version that did not include turmeric and the other herbs, it included ginger, and lemon, but I like this version because I need the benefits of the turmeric.
Support @ Alphafoodie
Thank you for your comment, Deneice. Glad you like this version. 🙂