For years before my relocation to Thailand, mangoes and durians were what I used to associate with the kingdom of fruits. After all, the famous and delicious mango sticky rice is everyone’s go-to whenever they visit Thailand. I even receive requests from visitors who want to bring the dish back home to their families before they even board the plane! However, living in Phuket completely changed my “fruit perspective.”
Fields and fields of pineapple are found in different parts of the tropical island, amid thousands and thousands of palm trees. The local pineapples here are out of the world. They are super super juicy, compared to the less flavorful pineapples I used to have back home. You can get a whole, big pineapple here for less than 1 USD. We love cutting them into small chunks, which we then keep in the fridge for snacks. There are also famous mini pineapples the size of your palm, that my children call them “baby pineapple.” Not only they are petite, but they are just sweet like babies. Hence, when I first came across the brand “Palms & Pineapples,” I immediately knew it had to be from my beloved Phuket.
Meet The One and Only Chief Tropical Officer
What amused and delighted me right away when I met the brand owner Sarah Pinel, was that she gave herself the title of CTO, Chief Tropical Officer! I knew right away I was going to meet someone full of sunshine, fun and passion, someone inspired to share our island paradise with the world! The second thing about the brand that impressed me was that, within the first six months since the brand’s launch in November of 2023, its products were already in 5-star resort boutiques like the Six Senses! (Their charming display at Six Senses Yao Nai is pictured below.)
Sarah shared with us how she took on the mission to spread the tropical love around the world:
“To provide a bit of background, I have lived in Asia for 13 years, 2 of which have been in Phuket, Thailand. I love life in the tropics and always like to share crafts and treasures from Asia with family and friends back home. My biggest struggle has always been finding local crafts and treasures which were unique, high quality, beautifully presented and eco-friendly. In 2023, I purchased some souvenirs from Thailand— Tom Yum Flavoured cashew nuts from Phuket— and they were a huge hit with my family back home. My sister suggested I sell them back in my home country and so this is where the idea of Palms & Pineapples began.”
Transforming Generic Into Aesthetic
Palms and Pineapples’ vision is to source quality, locally made souvenirs and goods which are presented stylishly to make the perfect gift (or to spoil oneself!). At the same time, living in Asia offers a front row view of the profound effects of plastic waste and economic disparity. That’s why Palms & Pineapples has such a keen focus on sustainability, supporting local communities, craftsmen, and the environment. A key part of that vision has been sourcing non-plastic, reusable and recyclable packaging, and whenever possible, sourcing products which support local craftsmen and businesses. The brand offers a range of products which have been hand-picked to embrace the essence of Asia and tropical living. You can view the full range atwww.palmsandpineapples.asia, but here is a summary of the brand’s product ranges:
Local tropical treats: Locally grown and produced packets of Phuket dried mango and Tom Yum flavoured cashew nuts. My family cannot get enough of their dried mangoes. Since the brand does not add in any other additives, I feel comfortable to let my littles ones indulge themselves in them as snacks. The food is packaged in eco-friendly vacuum-packed bags. These two products can also be purchased as a set as “Tastes of Thailand Duo” gift bundle, presented in a reusable canvas drawstring bag.
(Interested? Check it out here: https://palmsandpineapples.asia/collections/tropical-treats)
Handmade spa products: Locally (meaning, Phuket) handmade spa products, all beautifully packaged in frosted glass and bamboo containers to minimise plastic use and encourage recycling and re-usage. The collection includes Mosquito repellent, after-sun, body scrubs and room/ pillow sprays. All are 100% natural made with pure essential oils.
You can see the full range of those products here: https://palmsandpineapples.asia/collections/handmade-spa-products
Palms & Pineapples’ Thai throw blankets: These are woven cotton blankets made in north-eastern Thailand. They are 100% Thai cotton, woven in a traditional pattern. They are super versatile, machine washable, and can be used on beds, for travel, or as a picnic blanket or tablecloth.
You can view them here: https://palmsandpineapples.asia/collections/handwoven-thai-thow-blankets
The blankets are available in a range of neural and bright colours, so there’s something to fit everyone’s tastes and sensibilities. You can use them as a throw on a bed or sofa, as a picnic blanket, tablecloth, travel or cinema blanket.
The Brand’s Star Product: Pineapple Towels
My absolute favourite Palms & Pineapples product— which was the product that first drew my eyes to the brand itself— is its Pineapple Turkish towels. Whilst not made in Thailand, these are a fantastic product and by far the brand’s best seller. These Peshtemal towels are made in Turkey out of 100% organic cotton and are of excellent quality. They are super soft, absorbent and versatile and are the perfect accessory for the beach, pool, yoga, boat trip etc. Without question, the most popular design is the ones featuring pineapples – they fly off the shelves. They are rarely found in Thailand and so can make very unique souvenirs from Thailand.
Check them out here: https://palmsandpineapples.asia/collections/turkish-towels
Coming Soon…
Beach bags: These are coming soon but will be tropical themed beach bags which are made in Thailand, featuring iconic Palms & Pineapples design.
Candles: although the brand currently offers a “Mosquito-Be-Gone” soy wax candle made with a blend of essential oils to keep the mosquitos away. What is in the pipeline is they are going to have stunning concrete vessel candles with the brand logo engraved and there will be two scents— both of which will naturally be tropical themed.
Palms and Pineapples products are very competitively priced, and the overall quality is high. Their most expensive item is the pineapple Turkish towel, which costs 1800 THB. (At time of this article’s writing, 1 USD was trading at a rate of 35.99 THB. These products are available online at www.palmsandpineapples.asia, as well as in Project Artisan and a number of hotels including The Pullman (which features the full product range in a popup shop) Six Senses Yai Noi, Como Cape Yamu, Little ocean Heroes, Ballards Farm Shop, and Kyut Boutiques— as well as many more on the horizon!
Follow Palms & Pineappes on social media here: www.facebook.com/palmsandpineapplesasia
