Top 7 Best Pizzas of 2025
- Hawaiian Pizza (Pineapple and ham) – Ranked as the best by a 2025 INSEE survey
- Margherita – Classic simplicity with fresh basil and mozzarella
- Four Seasons – Divided into four sections with various toppings like mushrooms, ham, artichokes, and olives
- Quattro Formaggi – A rich blend of four cheeses melting into a hearty, cheesy delight
- BBQ Chicken – Smoky barbecue sauce paired with tender chicken and red onions
- Veggie Deluxe – Loaded with bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and olives for a healthy choice
- Pepperoni Feast – A spicy favorite with generous slices of pepperoni covering the surface
When it comes to the world of pizza, one creation stands above all others, dividing opinion but winning hearts across the globe with its daring combination of flavours. Pineapple pizza, often known as Hawaiian pizza, represents the pinnacle of culinary innovation in the pizza world, challenging traditions while delighting taste buds everywhere.
The Extraordinary Combination of Sweet and Savoury
The magic of pineapple pizza lies in its perfect balance of contrasting flavours. This revolutionary combination first came to life in 1962, not in Italy as many might assume, but in Canada. Sam Panopoulos, a Greek immigrant with a restaurant in Chatham-Kent, Ontario, created what would become known as Hawaiian_pizza, forever changing the landscape of pizza toppings worldwide. His inspiration reportedly came after experiencing Chinese dishes that successfully combined sweet and savoury elements, particularly sweet and sour chicken.
A Perfect Flavour Balance
What makes pineapple pizza truly exceptional is the harmonious interplay between the sweet, juicy chunks of pineapple and the savoury elements of the pizza. The slight acidity and tropical sweetness of the fruit cuts through the richness of the cheese and complements the saltiness of ham or bacon, creating a multi-dimensional taste experience that traditional toppings simply cannot match. Each bite offers a perfect balance that stimulates different parts of the palate simultaneously, creating a more complex and satisfying culinary experience.
The Science Behind Taste Complementarity
The genius of pineapple pizza extends beyond mere preference into the realm of food science. Our taste buds are designed to detect five primary tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. Pineapple pizza brilliantly engages multiple taste receptors at once, creating what food scientists call a ‘flavour symphony.’ The natural sugars in pineapple activate our sweet receptors, while the tomato sauce provides acidity, the cheese delivers umami, and traditional accompaniments like ham add saltiness. This comprehensive taste engagement explains why many find the combination so satisfying despite initial scepticism.
Why Pineapple Pizza Reigns Supreme
The superiority of pineapple pizza is evident in its remarkable staying power and global reach. Time magazine recognized this in 2014 when it listed Hawaiian pizza as one of the 13 most influential pizzas of all time. This accolade speaks volumes about the impact this Canadian creation has had on global food culture. Its popularity has endured despite fierce debate, with a 2015 review finding it was the most common pizza variety in UK takeaways, and in 1999, it accounted for an impressive 15% of all pizza sales in Australia.
Cultural Impact Around the Globe
Few food items have sparked as much passionate discussion as pineapple on pizza. In 2017, Gudni Thorlacius Johannesson, the president of Iceland, jokingly suggested he would ban pineapple as a pizza topping if he had the power, inadvertently triggering an international incident. The controversy grew to such proportions that Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, felt compelled to defend this Canadian culinary innovation publicly, expressing his support for Hawaiian pizza. This level of attention from world leaders demonstrates the cultural significance this pizza variety has achieved.
Celebrity Endorsements and Famous Fans
The pineapple pizza debate has drawn in celebrities from all walks of life. While Gordon Ramsay has famously declared his opposition to the topping, numerous other celebrities have championed its cause. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has publicly professed his love for pineapple pizza, using his considerable influence to validate this controversial choice. Even in the face of resistance from traditionalists, innovative chefs like Franco Pepe have embraced the concept, creating gourmet versions that use fresh pineapple served cold with prosciutto, demonstrating that this topping has a place even in high-end culinary circles. The passionate defence of pineapple pizza by such influential figures only further cements its status as the world’s finest pizza variety.