View Full Version : Which banana do your prefer?
hydroid
04-22-2011, 09:21 AM
I have Goldfinger, Raja Puri, Dwarf Cavendish, Ice Cream, Dwarf Namwah. I was windering which of these types that you prefer for taste, I will be moving the pups around once they start pupping. My Goldfinger and Dwarf Cavendish are not as cold hardy as the others. I also need to know which bananas I need to devote most time to winterizing. I thought about getting a Manzano but I hear they are not cold hardy at all. I hear great things about the Raja Puri and Dwarf Namwah.
I tried winterizing this past year and it worked out great for my Raja puri, I already have a bloom.
I would like to know your taste preference. Thanks
Bo
Richard
04-22-2011, 10:58 AM
I have Goldfinger, Raja Puri, Dwarf Cavendish, Ice Cream, Dwarf Namwah. ... I would like to know your taste preference. Thanks
Bo
They all have different taste characteristics and are good on their own merits. I'll go with Jon (pitangadiego) and say that "I like the one that is ripe".
momoese
04-22-2011, 11:13 AM
Raja Puri for me. Namwah close second.
venturabananas
06-30-2011, 12:01 PM
Namwah for me, but I haven't tried Ice Cream yet. I prefer Raja Puri and Goldfinger over Cavendish, though I eat supermarket Cavendish almost every day, since my own bananas have yet to produce fruit and there's only so many "exotic" bananas you can bum off your friends!
MSmith
06-30-2011, 07:04 PM
Tony sunfish gave me some dwarf namwah when I bought some plants, I had never tasted namwah before but man they tasted good, Im glad I bought a dwarf namwah plant from him. I have only had cavendish, namwah, baby, dwarf brazilian
shilisha
10-09-2012, 04:11 AM
:woohoonaner:I like goldfinger!!
Deluxe_bananas
08-08-2013, 01:42 AM
Ecuadorian baby bananas are the most delightful bananas in the world :)
redswe
08-08-2013, 05:57 AM
I grow Manzano and find they are almost as cold tolerent as D . Namwah. When they are ripe they are yummy because of their apple flavor, I have Goldfinger, Raja Puri, Dwarf Cavendish, Ice Cream, Dwarf Namwah. I thought about getting a Manzano but I hear they are not cold hardy at all. I hear great things about the Raja Puri and Dwarf Namwah.
I would like to know your taste preference. Thanks
Bo
venturabananas
08-08-2013, 10:40 AM
I grow Manzano and find they are almost as cold tolerent as D . Namwah. When they are ripe they are yummy because of their apple flavor,
Manzano does OK for me when it gets cool -- 30's and 40's F during winter. Not as tough as Dwarf Namwah and the other Pisang Awak varieties, but much better than Cavendish and the AA genome ones. And I'd choose to eat a good Manzano over a good Dwarf Namwah every time. But I'd also choose to eat a good Mysore subgroup banana over a Manzano every time!
sunfish
08-08-2013, 11:09 AM
I love store bought cavendish. Yummy the best
Illia
08-08-2013, 01:22 PM
haha, wow. I've not tried any of my own bananas yet but I would certainly say storebought Cavendish, to me, are among the worst. I had the great luck of trying some Orinoco from a mexican store, and, no matter how ripe I got it - it didn't have the best taste and the funkiest texture, but I'm sure it was picked too early.
Of those listed, comparing to all the reviews I've read on this forum and elsewhere, Namwah always seems to be on top, however Rajapuri's just don't seem to be a common sight for some reason so the competition based on reviews isn't the fairest.
venturabananas
08-08-2013, 01:46 PM
I have Goldfinger, Raja Puri, Dwarf Cavendish, Ice Cream, Dwarf Namwah. I was wondering which of these types that you prefer for taste...
Bo
Two years and many bananas later, I would change my answer to Bo's original question. For my tastes now, I'd rank these 5 as follows:
1. Goldfinger
2. Rajapuri
3. Dwarf Namwah / Dwarf Cavendish (tie)
4. Ice Cream
But Dwarf Cavendish doesn't grow well in my climate, so I won't grow it much longer, especially since you can buy Cavendish bananas in any supermarket. I have nearly 100 lbs of ripe Dwarf Namwah right now and I'd rather be eating Goldfinger or Rajapuri. But I'd choose a Mysore banana (Mysore, Pisang Ceylon, or Pisang Klotek) over all of those, and a Brazilian or (DB) would come next.
vitin6039
08-08-2013, 02:01 PM
The only bananas available to me right now are Cavendish so I have a bias and I love Manzano I use to eat those at home in the island.
What about Gros Michel anyone like those I know there are a few Gros Michel cult like lovers around here.
robguz24
08-08-2013, 03:26 PM
Not having tried Goldfinger (which I'm sure I'd like since I like DBs), I'd rank them in order as Namwah, Raja Puri, Cavendish, Ice Cream. Of those I would really only want to eat Namwahs on a daily basis. I prefer Mysore, DB, and Gros Michel quite a bit more than any of the 4 on the original thread list that I've tried.
sunfish
08-08-2013, 03:56 PM
haha, wow. I've not tried any of my own bananas yet but I would certainly say storebought Cavendish, to me, are among the worst. I had the great luck of trying some Orinoco from a mexican store, and, no matter how ripe I got it - it didn't have the best taste and the funkiest texture, but I'm sure it was picked too early.
Of those listed, comparing to all the reviews I've read on this forum and elsewhere, Namwah always seems to be on top, however Rajapuri's just don't seem to be a common sight for some reason so the competition based on reviews isn't the fairest.
So what are you comparing store bought cavendish with ?
robguz24
08-08-2013, 06:26 PM
I think one of the reason Namwahs come out on top in a lot of comments is because they are very common and cold hearty, so likely to be grown and tasted by many. For whatever unknown reason, everyone seems to want to grow real Ice Creams, they buy what they think are the real thing, and end up growing and eating Namwahs.
venturabananas
08-08-2013, 07:56 PM
Rob, I think you're right. The question of what you like the flavor of best is different what is best to grow. Dwarf Namwah is a great plant for marginal conditions, where many of us are growing our bananas. Some of the tastier cultivars can't handle those conditions as well.
venturabananas
08-08-2013, 08:01 PM
So what are you comparing store bought cavendish with ?
I had many "tree-ripened" Cavendish on my recent trip to the Cook Islands. Most were a bit better than the store bought ones available in the US, and some were excellent. I take back most of the bad things I've said about them! Except I'm still getting rid of them from my yard because they are so slow to produce compared to the hardier varieties.
sunfish
08-08-2013, 08:10 PM
I give up
venturabananas
08-08-2013, 08:27 PM
I give up
Well, you already did, right? You don't have any Cavendish bananas growing in your yard, right? :ha:
Illia
08-08-2013, 11:55 PM
I'm comparing store bought Cavendish with store bought Manzano, Red, Baby, and Orinoco.
sunfish
08-09-2013, 12:25 AM
I'm comparing store bought Cavendish with store bought Manzano, Red, Baby, and Orinoco.
And by worst you mean not as good as an orinoco ? I think people are picking bananas based on more than taste.Or less than taste
Illia
08-09-2013, 01:38 AM
I'm basing on taste, and I mentioned Orinoco's poor traits earlier mainly because it was worse than most Cavendish I've had, but I personally think it is because they were picked too early. Comparing a few Orinoco from the same hand to hundreds of Cavendish from hundreds of hands is unfair. So I'd still say Cavendish certainly aren't the best, but in fact the worst if not right in line for the worst. But, the OP is asking about the original listed cultivars though.
Rmplmnz
08-31-2013, 09:25 AM
Namwah for me, but I haven't tried Ice Cream yet. I prefer Raja Puri and Goldfinger over Cavendish, though I eat supermarket Cavendish almost every day, since my own bananas have yet to produce fruit and there's only so many "exotic" bananas you can bum off your friends!
Too bad you are not local...you sure are an expert....
With fruit in our garden right now (fairly certain on the varieties:-):
Dwarf Brazailian (multiple)
Pisang Raja
Pitogo
Praying Hands (multiple)
Mysore
Rajapuri
Dwarf Puerto Rican Plantain
FHIA (of some kind or two)
Ele Ele
Ice Cream
Maybe a few others (in a hidden corner of the yard)
:08:
2013 08 31 Garden Tour - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdxUz3QgXJU)
venturabananas
08-31-2013, 10:30 AM
Expert, no. Well-informed dabbler, maybe. :ha:
If you ever find a spare moment to post a photo of Pisang Raja fruit, including a cross section of a ripe one, I'd love to see it. I think there's a lot of confusion about this variety in the US, and I don't think I've ever seen the real deal.
Rmplmnz
08-31-2013, 10:38 PM
Expert, no. Well-informed dabbler, maybe. :ha:
If you ever find a spare moment to post a photo of Pisang Raja fruit, including a cross section of a ripe one, I'd love to see it. I think there's a lot of confusion about this variety in the US, and I don't think I've ever seen the real deal.
Will do..this is the second time we are growing this. Our earlier try had medium to large Orange Pulp flesh...not sure this one will be the same..hopefully so:-)
venturabananas
09-01-2013, 10:55 AM
That sounds like the real deal, with orangish flesh. Should also have a thick peel.
robguz24
09-01-2013, 01:28 PM
If you ever find a spare moment to post a photo of Pisang Raja fruit, including a cross section of a ripe one, I'd love to see it. I think there's a lot of confusion about this variety in the US, and I don't think I've ever seen the real deal.
I've thought the same about my own and the photos I've seen on here. Very different than described in Kepler & Rust, which mentions them having a mysore-like red underside of new leaves and particularly long and thin sword suckers.
DisneyButterfly1
09-02-2013, 07:05 PM
Great seeing the comments from all of you, since I am just getting started growing several of these. Thanks for all of your thoughts!! Looking forward to the next year or two on testing your thoughts :)
Hey Bo!!
Rmplmnz
10-21-2013, 10:32 PM
Namwah for me, but I haven't tried Ice Cream yet. I prefer Raja Puri and Goldfinger over Cavendish, though I eat supermarket Cavendish almost every day, since my own bananas have yet to produce fruit and there's only so many "exotic" bananas you can bum off your friends!
I would luv to send you an Ice Cream hand..but they have to be perfectly ripe....a little past and they start to get mushy...and we know what everyone thinks of Ice Cream one day after they are perfect:-)
When perfectly ripe and firm..I am not sure there is a better banana. I believe that you could change some members perception (based on how well respected and knowledgeable you are) on Ice Cream.
Have you had:
Praying Hands
Ele Ele
Hua Moa
Those would ship much easier......and will be available soon:-)
Richard
10-21-2013, 10:48 PM
To the un-initiated, Goldfinger is a good home-grown banana. If the grower is in a temperate environment (real or simulated 9b+) then the Namwa is hard to beat. The real Ice Cream is great in USDA cold hardiness zone 11, but the timing for perfect harvest in zone 10 (or lower) is problematic. I have hung a bunch in my garage (thanks Jason!) and for one day, 40 of the 60 bananas had a perfect taste. Before and after that it was barely acceptable. The Namwas (dwarf and standard) I've grown in zone 9b weather, ripened either outdoors or hanging in the garage during winter were outstanding. However, you have to examine the fruits before picking and decide whether further input from the mother plant will result in more expansion of the fruit or the outer skins have hardened off and their is no benefit to leaving them on the plant. The Mysore varieties I have grown in 10a weather were even better tasting, and I look forward to fruits produced in my new 10b location.
venturabananas
10-21-2013, 11:16 PM
I would luv to send you an Ice Cream hand..but they have to be perfectly ripe....a little past and they start to get mushy...and we know what everyone thinks of Ice Cream one day after they are perfect:-)
When perfectly ripe and firm..I am not sure there is a better banana. I believe that you could change some members perception (based on how well respected and knowledgeable you are) on Ice Cream.
Have you had:
Praying Hands
Ele Ele
Hua Moa
Those would ship much easier......and will be available soon:-)
I have not had Praying Hands, Ele Ele, or Hua Moa, though I have had Cardaba, which is in the same subgroup as Praying Hands (Saba subgroup) and an unidentified Maoli subgroup banana, which is the subgroup that Ele Ele is in. I'm always game to try more bananas! :08:
That quote from me was over two years old, and I've been fortunate enough to try maybe a couple dozen varieties, several of which have been from my yard. I almost hate to admit it, but my buddy who started me down the banana insanity path was probably right: in my climate, Dwarf Brazilian is probably the best you can do -- at least for my tastes and for being a bulletproof plant. Mysore varieties can be awesome, but seem to be more hit or miss on texture in my climate. Pisang Awak varieties ("Namwah" types) are also bulletproof and very productive, but I'm not as excited to eat them as Dwarf Brazilian and other Pome subgroup varieties. But taste is taste, and for folks who don't like bananas a little tart, DB would not be a winner.
I've only tried the real Ice Cream (Blue Java) once. I thought it was a good banana. Maybe it was in that narrow window when it's at its best. My plant is still probably a year away from fruiting.
Rmplmnz
10-27-2013, 12:24 PM
Video of a few different bananas:
2013 10 27 Rmplmnz Garden Tour - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkwu4yNO9-I&feature=youtu.be)
eddiemunozep
11-19-2013, 07:51 PM
Here are my two cents on bananas in general.
I like store bought bananas Chiquita, Del Monte, and Dole, never seem to know which one I might prefer but nothing out of this world. I eat at least one daily.
I tried Burro/Orinoco grown at home good when ripe as a dessert banana but kind of small and a pit pithy.
I bought Burro and Manzano bananas this week from our local asian market and they were quite good, my grand son 7.5 months old prefers them to the regular cavendish store bananas.
Misi Luki is good, I had one at Jon's place at Encanto farms, good flavor better than store bought.
If can get my Orinoco bananas to be as good as the ones from the asian market I will be happy.
I am wont be able to comment on my RajaPuri, Namwah, MisiLuki, and Orinoco until next year assuming all goes well over the winter,
My Goldfinger, williams, DB, Sweetheart, Manzano are all TC'd so I doubt if they will be big enough to fruit next year.
They say when you grow it your self it's allways better.
Eddie
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2020, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.