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!

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!

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.

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!

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

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!

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.

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!