1. What is a
bromeliad?
Bromeliads are a family of plants that
include the pineapple.
There are over 3,000 species of bromeliad.
They are mostly from the tropics in America,
but one species is found in Africa.
They grow in all sorts of places, on trees, on the
ground, the side of cliffs, even on telephone wires!

2. The national drink of Brazil is the
cocktail ‘caipirinha’. One of the
earliest caipirinhas was mixed in a
bromeliad by German naturalists
on an expedition in the 1800s.
Bromeliads are a family of plants
that include the pineapple.
Have a go at making it yourself; Don’t
worry, you don’t need a bromeliad!
Crush sugar and lime wedges in the bottom of
a glass. Add a double shot of cachaça (a liquor
made from fermented sugar cane juice). Drop
in a couple of ice cubes and enjoy!

3. Agave
nectar
Agaves have been used by people in the
Americas for 9,000 years and many are
still used as edible plants today.
The core of some agave plants contains a sweet sap
called agua miel or ‘honey water’, which is used to
produce agave syrup.
Pick up a bottle from your local health food shop and
try it as an alternative to your usual sweetener. You
can add this syrup to your tea, pancakes and waffles.

5. You might be surprised at
what colours your food!
Cochineal dye, a deep red food colouring, comes from a scaly
beetle called a cochineal. It lives and feeds on prickly pear cacti.
The red dye is produced inside the insect as it feeds on
the cacti. It has been used to colour clothing and food for
thousands of years, even the Aztecs used it. It is still used
today in foods and cosmetics such as glace cherries, jams,
drinks and lipstick.
Red
alert!

7. Tequila is made from
one plant – the blue agave
(Agave tequilana).
Just as champagne can only be produced
in a region of France, genuine tequila
can only be produced in its country of
origin, Mexico. It’s one of the most closely
regulated spirits in the world.
It requires patience to produce this famous
spirit from the blue agave. Tequila is not
aged in barrels like wine, but in the plant
itself for up to 12 years!
The spirit of mexico
TEQUILATEQUILA

8. Bromeliads are used by people for
food, fibres and household items.
They have been used in the
Americas for thousands of years.
Particularly in times of drought, these
plants are an essential food source.
The leaves of some bromeliads are
dried and ground to produce flour.
This flour is rich in starch and contains
15 times more calcium than milk!

9. A symbol
of wealth
The pineapple (Ananas comosus)
is the most famous member of
the bromeliad family.
Christopher Columbus brought
the pineapple to Europe from the
Caribbean over 500 years ago.
A symbol of welcome in many wealthy homes,
it became the dessert to impress and was
often the centrepiece of the dining table.

11. Fruits of
the desertPrickly pears are a group of plants
in the cactus family.
The prickly pear has many different uses. From jams and
spreads to cocktails and juices. It’s a very fruitful plant!
The pears also have health benefits such as maintaining
good blood sugar levels, and
even used to ease hangovers!