What should you know about the pineapple on pizza debate?
- More people like pineapple on pizza than not
- It breaks tradition
- Each side has political backers
- It has health benefits
It’s no secret that pizza brings people together. Arguably, pizza is one of the world’s best comfort and bonding foods once cut into slices among friends and family to share. Pizza is also a delicious meal for any time of the day — whether breakfast, lunch, dinner, or midnight snack. However, pizza can also easily divide the dinner table with just one question: “Does pineapple go on pizza?”. Over the past few years, the pineapple on pizza debate has become highly contested all over the world.
If you’ve ever tried pineapples on pizza, then you probably already know where you stand. In most cases, people either hate pineapples on pizza or love it. You might be wondering how the pineapple on pizza debate started and if there are reasons for pineapples to go on pizza at all. Let’s settle this debate once and for all.
How The Pineapple on Pizza Debate Started
The whole debate on using pineapple on pizza dates back to when Hawaiian Pizza was introduced, in the year 1962.
The classic Hawaiian pizza combines cooked ham, flavorful tomato sauce, gooey mozzarella cheese, and sweet pineapple chunks. Not known to many, Hawaiian pizza was actually first introduced in a restaurant in Toronto, Canada. It was made by a Greek-born Canadian named Sam Panopoulous.
Panopoulos was inspired by Asian dishes that combined sweet and savory flavors. As a result, he decided to add canned pineapples to the cheese and ham pizza he served his customers. People liked the pizza and it wasn’t long until Panopoulus’ concept spread to other places. Nonetheless, pineapples on pizza remained controversial.
Below, we discuss (or even argue) the top reasons why pineapples belong on pizza.
More people like pineapple on pizza than not
A 2017 poll revealed that 53% of people liked pineapple on pizza. 12% of people dislike pineapple on pizza, while 29% of people hated the idea of putting pineapple on pizza. Thus, the number one reason why pineapple should go on pizza is that people like it!
“But, why?”, you might ask. Many dishes combine different flavors well and Hawaiian pizza does a great job of combining sweet and savory flavors, which the majority of people love! People choose their food by taste and the natural sweetness of pineapple pairs well with the savory flavors of cooked ham, gooey cheese, and tomato sauce.
So, if you live in a house that has differing opinions, it might be best to order a half-and-half pizza to keep everyone happy.
It breaks tradition
One of the main arguments of people who disagree that pineapples go on pizza is that pineapple breaks the tradition, which is that fruits have no place on a pizza. However, many avid Hawaiian pizza fans argue that tomato is a fruit and a well-loved topping by everyone. So why can’t pineapple be a topping?
Moreover, the precursor of pizza, which is the focaccia, was originally made with mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce, and basil by Italians. Over the years, pizza was transformed with new toppings and flavors. While pineapples on pizza may not be traditional, it should certainly be accepted in this new age.
Each side has political backers
We can all agree that the pineapple on pizza debate is big because each side has political backers.
The president of Iceland, Gudni Thorlacius Johannesson, joked with school pupils saying “I like pineapples, just not on pizza”. He also joked that he had “no power to make laws which forbid people to put pineapples on their pizza”.
Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, defended his country’s culinary contribution with a tweet saying “I have a pineapple. I have a pizza. And I stand behind this delicious Southwestern Ontario creation. #TeamPineapple @Canada”.
It has health benefits
Pizzas are offered with varied healthy ingredients. You can get carbohydrates, proteins, and veggies from a single slice of pizza. So, perhaps one of the best reasons for pineapples to go on pizza is that it offers health benefits.
Placing a few chunks of pineapple on your pizza is a great way to make your meal more nutritious. Pineapple is a fruit with loads of manganese, vitamin C, vitamin B6, copper, folate, potassium, thiamin, magnesium, riboflavin, iron, and niacin. It can also aid with digestion, keep the bones healthy, and strengthen your immune system.
The pineapple on pizza debate can be easily settled if people would only look at the health benefits it offers.
Key Takeaway
The pineapple on pizza debate has been going on for a while. Whichever side you are on, it’s clear that Hawaiian pizza is one of the pizza flavors that many people love today.
If you also love pineapple on pizza, then you’ll love the Jimini Whole Pizza Hawaiian Hooplah and Jimini Pizza Bar Hawaiian Supreme. Order now! We’d be happy to serve you. You may also check out our other winning brands at Jimini here.
