venturabananas
11-26-2011, 02:48 PM
Thanks to the generosity of a couple of the members here (BadPun and Clare_CA), I had the opportunity to do a "head-to-head" taste test of Mysore, Dwarf Brazilian, Manzano (store bought), and Cardaba.
Here's what they look like in the peels. From the top and going clockwise: Manzano, Cardaba, Dwarf Brazilian, and Mysore. (Note that the photo angle seems to have altered relative sizes a bit. They actually ranked as follows: Cardaba, Manzano, D. Braz., Mysore).
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46954&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46954&ppuser=7760)
Here's what they look like on my cereal. From the top going clockwise: Manzano, Mysore, and Dwarf Brazilian.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46955&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46955&ppuser=7760)
I didn't actually include Cardaba on the cereal. It just didn't make the cut -- I'd already tried it and it wasn't breakfast cereal worthy in comparison to the other three. To be fair, it probably wasn't as ripe as it needed to be for optimal dessert banana flavor. I just had another one that was riper and it was better. Some good flavor, but not on par with the other three. I'm also not a huge fan of the very squishy, airy, texture.
As for the other three, Mysore was the clear winner. Incredible taste. If you haven't had one before you will be surprised at just how much sweet-tart flavor a banana can have. In fact, I know at least a couple of people, my wife included, who described it as tasting like "Sweettart" candies. It's her favorite, and mine too, to date.
Dwarf Brazilian and Manzano were both very good. To me at least 10x better than a storebought Cavendish. Both have a bit of acidity. D. Braz has more tropical flavor (I get hints of pineapple), whereas Manzano really does live up to its name and has more apple taste. Depending on the day and the bunch, my preference for the two flip flops.
I have tried all of these varieties except Cardaba at least a few times, and I have to say that their flavor and texture can really vary a lot, probably depending on the conditions they experienced when maturing, the nutrition of the plant, location, etc., etc., etc.
Thanks again to the folks who have shared their fruit with me: BadPun, Clare_CA, Sunfish, Momoese, and Pitangadiego (and my neighbors).
Here's what they look like in the peels. From the top and going clockwise: Manzano, Cardaba, Dwarf Brazilian, and Mysore. (Note that the photo angle seems to have altered relative sizes a bit. They actually ranked as follows: Cardaba, Manzano, D. Braz., Mysore).
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46954&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46954&ppuser=7760)
Here's what they look like on my cereal. From the top going clockwise: Manzano, Mysore, and Dwarf Brazilian.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=46955&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=46955&ppuser=7760)
I didn't actually include Cardaba on the cereal. It just didn't make the cut -- I'd already tried it and it wasn't breakfast cereal worthy in comparison to the other three. To be fair, it probably wasn't as ripe as it needed to be for optimal dessert banana flavor. I just had another one that was riper and it was better. Some good flavor, but not on par with the other three. I'm also not a huge fan of the very squishy, airy, texture.
As for the other three, Mysore was the clear winner. Incredible taste. If you haven't had one before you will be surprised at just how much sweet-tart flavor a banana can have. In fact, I know at least a couple of people, my wife included, who described it as tasting like "Sweettart" candies. It's her favorite, and mine too, to date.
Dwarf Brazilian and Manzano were both very good. To me at least 10x better than a storebought Cavendish. Both have a bit of acidity. D. Braz has more tropical flavor (I get hints of pineapple), whereas Manzano really does live up to its name and has more apple taste. Depending on the day and the bunch, my preference for the two flip flops.
I have tried all of these varieties except Cardaba at least a few times, and I have to say that their flavor and texture can really vary a lot, probably depending on the conditions they experienced when maturing, the nutrition of the plant, location, etc., etc., etc.
Thanks again to the folks who have shared their fruit with me: BadPun, Clare_CA, Sunfish, Momoese, and Pitangadiego (and my neighbors).