how to forage pineapple weed

Oscar Boatfield
Jul 21
2 min read

This DELICIOUS edible is actually an escapee from Kew Gardens back in the 1800s. Originally from northeast Asia, British botanists brought it over to the UK in 1781 and it has been here ever since.

It is a close relative to camomile and has a very distinct and delicious scent. It smells just like pineapple.

What does it look like

It is a small, stumpy looking plant. It only gets up to 20cm in height, has deeply divided feathery leaves and the flower heads look like camomile flowers without the petals. They are domed and have a greenish colour.

When crushed it has an extremely strong scent of pineapple.

What can you confuse it with

Can be confused with camomile and mayweed, but both are edible.

Where does it grow

Pineapple weed is usually found in poor, compacted soil often next to foot paths, field entrances, waste ground and road sides.

When to collect it

It grows from May to October.

What delicious things can you make with it

The flowerheads are the best part of the plant and taste and smell most strongly of pineapple. The leaves can also be used in salads.

The most common use for pineapple weed is to make syrups, infuse them in water for iced teas or in desserts such as panna cotta. It is also often used in cocktails.

Medicinal benefits

It has similar benefits to camomile including improvement to digestion and reducing stress. It has also been used to treat fevers.
It is also known for its effectiveness as an insect repellent.