| Alternative names | Nata de pinya, pineapple gel, pineapple gelatin |
|---|---|
| Type | Confectionery ordessert |
| Place of origin | Philippines |
| Region or state | Pagsanjan,Laguna |
| Main ingredients | Pineapple juice |
| Variations | Nata de coco |
Nata de piña ("cream of pineapple" inSpanish), also marketed aspineapple gel orpineapple gelatin, is a chewy, translucent,jelly-like food produced by thefermentation ofpineapple juice. It is a traditional dessert in thePhilippines, produced since the 18th century using waste pineapple juices from thepiña fiber industry inPagsanjan,Laguna.[1] It has a sweet-sour taste and is popularly used in fruit salads, jams, ice creams, candies, and various other dishes.[2]
Nata de piña production is not as widespread asnata de coco, a variant that usescoconut water, largely because of the seasonal nature ofpineapple farming. Commercially producednata de piña is generally made from extracts of discarded pulp and pineapple skin. Thegelling is the result of the production ofmicrobial cellulose byKomagataeibacter xylinus.[3]
