Kandrian Taste Report

[servatusprime]

TEXTURE- A fluffy delight! As it gets riper, it seems a little less fluffy. The mouth feel is still very pleasant, but it becomes a little gummier. I wouldn’t necessarily call it mushy since it holds together well.

FIRMNESS – Well it’s the least firm banana I’ve ever eaten. But that is in no way off putting.

SWEETNESS- Sweet, perhaps deceptively so. If you eat more than two in one siting, your stomach might get a little sour. (I’ve gone up to four)

TARTNESS- Fairly tart when there is some green at the tip, but then becomes milder after becoming fully yellow.

RIPENESS- Green and/or yellow at the tip during testing.

FLAVOR- This might be my favorite I’ve grown thus far. It’s so different and unique compared to the other varieties. I could eat it every day. To me it was a blend of granny smith apple, custard, banana with a slight hint of vanilla. The tartness does decrease as it ripens, but it’s no less delightful. As it ripens i detect a developing flavor of really good cantaloupe.

I also had it grilled green and I liked that as well. Tasted like a nice fire roasted russet potato! Grilled yellow is ok too but there are better varieties for that. I’ve tried making banana chips too, but I think I need to experiment with the recipe a little more before commenting on it.

OTHER: I like how this variety is versatile in the kitchen and maintains good flavor. The fruit size and shape gives you a nice sized portion and the fruit peels easily. Something a little funny I noticed is that when ripe, the skin gives a little like a ripe mango. Maybe it’s the fluff factor! (I’m not serious)

GROWING IT: I love growing this plant! It’s both beautiful and like a juggernaut! It doesn’t care what the weather is. It’s the hardiest variety that I have and the last to get cold damage. However, there is a catch. It can get really tall. (See Nick’s photo in the harvest section) My first bunch off this mat was a whopping 50lbs (not bad for tissue culture) and getting it down wasn’t the smoothest operation. Getting it down might be a two person job depending on how able bodied you are. But I think it’s worth it! Besides, it keeps things interesting







OVERALL RATING: 9. I would go 10 for just the fruit, but the height and harvesting knocks down the rating a bit. I wish there was a dwarf available, then it would be perfect. I love the fruit and would recommend it to anyone as long as they are comfortable with the growing habit.

SUGGESTED USE: Eat, Eat, and Eat some more! Fresh out of hand is my favorite, but I have been enjoying cooking with it. With such good yields, I can afford to take some risks in the kitchen to see what the potential really is.

[Abnshrek]

I think that's awesome. The 3 sides reminds me of the one's I harvested off my 7'er anomaly. If it weren't for your white flowers and slight color difference they would look rather similar other than my smaller harvest. I think most of mine looked like the one behind the pop bottle on the right where you can really tell its has 3 sides.. :^)

[servatusprime]

Methinks you had Orinoco.

[Abnshrek]

Originally Posted by servatusprime

Methinks you had Orinoco.

No, they normallly fruit @ 15', but getting a stem thru Winter intact sometimes you get lucky. Orinoco's wish they tasted that good.. :^)

[servatusprime]

Originally Posted by Abnshrek

No, they normallly fruit @ 15', but getting a stem thru Winter intact sometimes you get lucky. Orinoco's wish they tasted that good.. :^)

What about a dwarf orinoco? I meant that variety more specifically. I don't come across the tall variety too often. I'm guessing all this was in a previous thread. Sorry if I am missing the boat here.

[Abnshrek]

Originally Posted by servatusprime

What about a dwarf orinoco? I meant that variety more specifically. I don't come across the tall variety too often. I'm guessing all this was in a previous thread. Sorry if I am missing the boat here.

I think the only previous post(s) were in the Banana's blooming.. I had one last year and the year previous.. I don't flower DO's in fact I'm fixing to dig out that corm since i have Caligold's that are more consistent growers & bloomers. I think the real Orinoco is almost bulletproof.. I have it at both places and 3 neighbors yards.. Only Dwarf Orinoco left will be @ my neighbor's and that won't flower either.. :^)

[floridagrower]

Good to hear. This is one that I have been trying to get to fruit for two seasons. How many months to fruit? P stem height? How long to plump up? Any other notes about growing this one? Saba fruits fine for me, so I am hopeful.

[Fiberflair]

Thanks for the detailed description. It sounds intriguing and the plant looks majestic.

[mskin]

servatusprime,

are you sure yours aren't Orinoco's?

I've seen them fruit easily @ 15 feet. and that was a wild patch out in homestead FL.

[hydroid]

Thanks for this post. We picked up a pup at "Going Bananas". Also got to try them, very tasty. I thought the Saba were huge until I saw the Kandrian.

[servatusprime]

Originally Posted by mskin

servatusprime,

are you sure yours aren't Orinoco's?

I've seen them fruit easily @ 15 feet. and that was a wild patch out in homestead FL.

I'm pretty sure. Orinoco's are in the same subgroup and are similar in some aspects. I have tasted the dwarf variety and there are differences. It's been awhile, but Kandrian's are more "fluffy" and have more of an apple taste out of hand. The Orinoco's had some strawberry like flavors which I do not recall with Kandrian. Overall I like Kandrain more and they are a very hardy plant. I have a bunch that should be ready soon so I'll check again.

[hydroid]

For my taste, the Orinoco does not come close to Kandrian but that's just my taste buds.

[servatusprime]

They are especially different in the earlier stages of ripeness. I would grow Kandrian over a burro banana anyday.

[PR-Giants]

"Numerous banana cultivars will grow in Florida however their disease resistance and fruit quality vary widely. Some times a specific cultivar may substitute for by another cultivar but many times this is not the case. Currently, the most popular banana being grown is called Thai-banana however; this is more accurately called ‘Pisang Awak’ or ‘Kluai Nam Wa’. Unfortunately it is susceptible to Panama Disease. Although we have tested some banana cultivars and there are a number of good banana cultivars that can grow in south Florida, whether they can substitute for the Thai-banana is not known. In the table below we list a number of banana cultivars with Panama Disease Resistance. Before planting large acreages of any of these, they should be grown on a very small scale and tested for their fruit quality and yields."

The Kandrian scored high.

Originally Posted by servatusprime

Orinoco's are in the same subgroup

Thanks for the info...!