If you've seen white strawberries on store shelves or in your social media feeds and confused them for unripe fruit, you're not alone.
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The fruit is actually called the pineberry, and it's supposed to be white, or maybe a little pink. It looks exactly like an anemic strawberry with red seeds — perhaps if you imagined the ghost of a strawberry. Its flavor is a cross between that of a strawberry and a pineapple, hence the name. However, the taste has also been compared to that of a dragon fruit, apricots, and other fruits, so it's a little bit mysterious.
@princessjonalynxo 🌸🍓🍍 Have you tried pine berries?? I found them at Costco for 4.99! 🍍🍓🌸 I need to know where I can find the cotton candy grapes now!! 🍍🍓🌸 #Costco #CostcoFinds #VenmoSpringBreak #macysownyourstyle #ShoppingHaul #PINEBERRIES #FYP #viral #GroceryShopping #CostcoBuys #CostcoTiktok #CostcoMustHaves #Pink ♬ original sound - triippyjermm
Pineberries were first cultivated by a Dutch grower about 20 years ago by crossbreeding red and white strawberry varieties. They first came to the United States in 2012 and were primarily used in high-end restaurants. They're only now becoming more widespread because they're a hybrid, which makes them more difficult to grow, especially on a commercial scale. It doesn't help that wineberries are more fragile than red strawberry cultivars, either.
@kellybigbite Winter Frost Pineberries #traderjoes #traderjoesmusthaves #pineberries #tiktokfood #fruits #newfood ♬ Forever - Labrinth
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Still, the eye-catching fruit has been popping up on store shelves like crazy this year, including at Costco, Aldi, and Trader Joe's. Pineberries are sold under various cutesy names, including Pink-A-Boo and Winter Frost. If you want to try them for yourself, expect to pay a premium for the novelty — anywhere from $4.49 at Aldi to about $6 at Trader Joe's for just 10 ounces.
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