As seen in Good Housekeeping.
Pink produce is having a moment. From rosy dragon fruit and pink lemons to the palest blush strawberry varieties like Florida Pearl, shoppers are increasingly drawn to fruits that are as Instagram-worthy as they are snackable.
One of the buzziest examples? Pinkglow Pineapple, an ultra-photogenic alternative to the traditional golden variety that you may have spotted on TikTok, Instagram, or at a restaurant.
But Pinkglow isn’t just a pretty face. The pineapple was named a winner in the 2026 Good Housekeeping Snack Awards, where judges and testers agreed that the flavor lives up to the hype.
Why it’s pink
The color comes from lycopene, the same naturally occurring pigment that gives watermelon and pink grapefruit their rosy hue.
Pinkglow was developed to have pink flesh instead of the usual golden yellow, giving it that pale rose color that makes every slice feel instantly more fun. Yes, it’s cute. But the bigger surprise is how it tastes.
Why it tastes different
Regular pineapple can be delicious, but it can also bring that sharp, tongue-tingly acidity that makes some people tap out after a few bites.
Pinkglow is different. It’s still juicy and tropical, but testers found it sweeter, smoother, and less prickly than a standard pineapple. These were my tasting notes when judging it for the Snack Awards:
“Not only is the color a beautiful pale rose, the flavor is outstanding. When ripe, it’s sweet and fragrant but without the super acidic prickliness that conventional pineapples have. Even my husband, who isn’t a big fan of fresh pineapple, loved this pink version.”
Fresh Del Monte says that’s by design. “The Pinkglow pineapple has specifically been cultivated to contain lower levels of bromelain than traditional pineapples, resulting in a noticeably sweeter taste with significantly less acidity and reduced mouth-tingling,” says Ivan Brown, senior director of marketing for Del Monte Corporation, North America.
“As a result, Pinkglow pineapples are generally more tolerable for individuals who experience mild mouth sensitivity when consuming standard pineapple.”
In other words, if you’ve ever loved the flavor of pineapple but not the tongue-tingling sensation that can come with it, Pinkglow may offer a gentler alternative.
Fellow judge Yumna Jawad was also sold, calling it “worth the extra price” and “so sweet, juicy, and delicious.”
What testers thought
The biggest takeaways: sweet, juicy, refreshing, and balanced.
One tester really liked the novelty factor, saying, “I love that it’s pink! I’ve never seen a pink pineapple, and I love the cute packaging box that it came in.” They also picked up “slight notes of grapefruit.”
Another tester said, “I loved this pineapple!!! So sweet and juicy, while staying balanced. It wasn’t too fibrous like regular pineapples can be.”
Even some self-proclaimed pineapple skeptics were won over. “My kids devoured it, and they don’t even like regular pineapple,” reported Stefani Sassos, GH Nutrition Director. “It had the perfect balance of sweetness without being bitter or overly tart, and every bite was incredibly refreshing.”
A few testers were more measured. Some felt the flavor wasn’t dramatically different from a very ripe yellow pineapple, and others questioned whether they’d pay extra for it regularly. One tester noted that it feels more like a special-occasion fruit than an everyday grocery-store staple.
Is it worth trying?
- Think of it as a splurge, not a staple. While a conventional pineapple typically costs around $4 to $6 at the grocery store, Pinkglow is a premium specialty fruit that often retails for $10 to $30 in stores, with gift-boxed versions selling online for $39 or more.
- The flavor impressed most testers. Many loved its sweet, juicy, less-acidic profile, with several saying it tasted smoother and less fibrous than conventional pineapple. GH judge Yumna Jawad even called it “worth the extra price.”
- Where it shines: special occasions. Pinkglow offers something a conventional pineapple can’t—a built-in wow factor. Its pale pink flesh makes it a natural fit for baby showers, bachelorette parties, birthday brunches, and fruit boards that are meant to impress.
- The flavor may win over pineapple skeptics. Several judges and testers noted that Pinkglow tastes sweeter and less acidic than traditional pineapple. If you’ve always found fresh pineapple a little too sharp or tongue-tingly, this viral fruit could change your mind.
