Tag: Raphides

When you eat fresh pineapple, a natural protein-digesting enzyme in the fruit can cause a tingling or stinging sensation in your mouth. This phenomenon is the simple biological reason why does pineapple fight back when consumed raw.

A 2022 survey on Brainly.in definitively states that mangos do not contain raphides. For those who experience irritation, it is not due to these microscopic needle-like crystals, but rather an allergic reaction to a different compound found primarily in the fruit's skin.

An academic study published in the journal *Fruits* in 1997 confirmed the presence of calcium oxalate crystals, including raphides, in the fruits of both plantain and banana cultivars. While the fruit itself may not cause the stinging sensation associated with these crystals, the plant's peel and other parts contain them as a natural defense mechanism. The concentration and form of these crystals can change as the fruit ripens, but their presence is a well-established botanical fact.

According to food scientists, the burning sensation from eating pineapple is not an allergic reaction for most people, but rather a temporary biochemical process. It happens because fresh pineapple contains a unique enzyme called bromelain, which starts to break down proteins, including those found in your mouth.