Rung #36 — 2026-07-05

The answer was:

PINEAPPLE

The clue ladder, cryptic to obvious:

5 pts: While you eat me, I'm technically digesting you back.
4 pts: I take two to three years to grow a single fruit.
3 pts: In the 1700s I was so precious people rented me as a party decoration.
2 pts: My most controversial career move was appearing on pizza.
1 pts: I'm the spiky tropical fruit with the crown.

A pineapple takes two to three years to grow — and it eats you back: its enzyme bromelain digests protein, which is why your mouth tingles.