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View Full Version : Tu'u Ghia Taste Report


robguz24
07-06-2015, 03:42 PM
This one's a winner!

TEXTURE-Creamy with a silky mouth feel. Very pleasant.

FIRMNESS-Rather firm for being yellow with dark spots.

SWEETNESS-Very sweet. Similar to Sucrier/Pisang Mas. More than a Gros Michel or ripe Cavendish. Not quite as sweet when somewhat green, but also more astringent and vegetal. Should be eaten when fully yellow.

TARTNESS- None.

RIPENESS-Yellow with some black spots and hints of green at the tips. Better this way than with more green. Still firm at this stage of ripeness.

FLAVOR-There is a slight floral and vegetal taste to it, though less than in a Sucrier and without the aftertaste I get from Sucrier. It is a bit like if Gros Michel, Sucrier, and Rose were combined into one. Not quite as fragrant as Gros Michel. Mostly just sweet.

OTHER-Skin is rather thin with some strands sticking to the fruit when ripe. Fruit breaks off the hand even when green. Fruit aren’t particularly large.

OVERALL RATING-8.5-9 I tried these once a few years ago and they didn’t stand out at the time. These ones I’ve grown myself are really just delicious. Certainly in my top 5 or 10. I’d have to try this side by side with a Gros Michel to see which one I really prefer. My sense is I’d give the nod to Gros Michel, but it would be close. I had 4 for this tasting and would have had more if there were any ripe ones left. I’m planting more of these, which will be easy. They put out tons of keikis like other AA types I have (Sucrier, Rose, Kru). Just under 18 months to harvest. The plant isn’t super tall and seems impervious to everything. Weevils don’t seem to bother it, and it is planted right next to a Namwah mat that has withered, rotted, and been decimated by weevils.

SUGGESTED USE-Like you would a Cavendish. They’re so good though I’d rather just enjoy them on their own.

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/Tuu%20Ghia%20fruit_zpscteynohg.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/Tuu%20Ghia%20fruit_zpscteynohg.jpg.html)

JP
07-06-2015, 04:49 PM
Thanks. Nice to get clear opinions.

servatusprime
07-06-2015, 09:41 PM
Sounds a little tricky with the fingers snapping off when green. I doubt I will get a chance to grow that one, you are lucky.

geosulcata
07-07-2015, 11:57 AM
Thanks! We have this in the ground. Nice to know it is a good one.

edzone9
07-08-2015, 03:40 PM
Looks Good !

tanfenton
08-16-2015, 06:42 PM
Thanks! We have this in the ground. Nice to know it is a good one.

Geo,

Whereabouts did you get your Tu'u Ghia?

And for Rob: How did this plant arrive on your radar? Do you find Pisang Mas as nonplussed about its conditions as you do its AA compatriot? I tasted Sucrier for the first time a couple of days ago, never having seen anyone but you mention it online. (I've never even seen the ones that they supposedly sell in chain stores.) I wasn't expecting to like the fruit but did and am intrigued about adding at least one AA type banana to the collection. Guidance is appreciated!

N.

geosulcata
08-17-2015, 10:23 AM
Geo,

Whereabouts did you get your Tu'u Ghia?

And for Rob: How did this plant arrive on your radar? Do you find Pisang Mas as nonplussed about its conditions as you do its AA compatriot? I tasted Sucrier for the first time a couple of days ago, never having seen anyone but you mention it online. (I've never even seen the ones that they supposedly sell in chain stores.) I wasn't expecting to like the fruit but did and am intrigued about adding at least one AA type banana to the collection. Guidance is appreciated!

N.

I obtained mine through a friend. I have pups available. If you are interested, send a PM.

robguz24
08-17-2015, 12:25 PM
Geo,

Whereabouts did you get your Tu'u Ghia?

And for Rob: How did this plant arrive on your radar? Do you find Pisang Mas as nonplussed about its conditions as you do its AA compatriot? I tasted Sucrier for the first time a couple of days ago, never having seen anyone but you mention it online. (I've never even seen the ones that they supposedly sell in chain stores.) I wasn't expecting to like the fruit but did and am intrigued about adding at least one AA type banana to the collection. Guidance is appreciated!

N.

I had seen it for sale a few years ago and passed on it. Tasted the fruit and wasn't very impressed. Met someone from the other side of the island who was in my area selling a single TG and figured I'd buy it. Very glad I did!

Sucrier & Kluay Khai (basically the same as far as I can tell), Veinte Cohol, Hapai, Kru, and Rose are the other AAs I have. All are a pain in comparison. Hapai and Kru I've had over 3 years and still no fruit. The corms get attacked by weevils and are prone to rotting. They never totally die though and keep putting out pups. My Sucrier matt is down to one small struggling pup that I need to replant before it dies. Rose grows ok, but most of the p-stems die before fruiting. One fruited but the fruit never filled. I did get one small bunch a couple years ago on Rose. Veinte Cohol I have in a bad spot so I'm hoping some new plantings in better spots perform better. It doesn't put out pups like the others. The one that fruited did so after being blown completely over so they were barely fruit. TG is the best performing AA for me by far, and the best tasting (aside from VC which I haven't tasted yet).

Dug up a few more TG pups this weekend and while there were signs of weevil damage, it was limited to the outside edges of the corms, and didn't penetrate further into them.