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jayk9
02-07-2017, 05:33 PM
Hi guys,

Maybe you might be familiar with this banana? If it's too early to tell, then I'll take another picture in a week or so when the bananas are fully developed.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61193&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61193&ppuser=25033)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61192&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61192&ppuser=25033)

So I cut the flower bud down. Ready to prepare and eat it!
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61191&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61191&ppuser=25033)

Iowa
02-07-2017, 09:37 PM
Without seeing the rest of the tree it looks like a Musa 'Orinoco'

Gabe15
02-07-2017, 09:43 PM
Agreed, 'Orinoco' or similar Bluggoe-type cultivar.

Tytaylor77
02-07-2017, 10:36 PM
Orinoco. Do you guys have a lot of Orinocos in Australia like here in the US?

jayk9
02-07-2017, 11:55 PM
Thanks everyone for your input. Here's the rest of the banana tree.

https://s28.postimg.org/ebuj30iyl/16651421_10154707367196917_59311823_o.jpg

https://s28.postimg.org/n4bhqp43h/16650909_10154707367256917_1005213467_o.jpg

I think you guys are right because I've been looking up Orinoco on the internet, and so far the characteristics match up such as waxy white residue on the flower bud, the angular shape of the banana and the flower colour/shape.

Like this one, the photo was taken earlier, a few days ago.

https://s28.postimg.org/wy8eos03h/16593761_10154707382511917_608614081_o.jpg

And it all matches up to the photos from the link as below
Musa Orinoco - Bananas Wiki (http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Musa_Orinoco)

I didn't know what type of banana it was because my wife got the plant from her friend's husband who doesn't know what banana it is because he is unfamiliar with bananas and probably forgot the name when he bought it from some seller.

Also I've found out that the taste of Orinoco banana is almost similar to the Cavendish banana commonly found and sold in supermarkets.

Which is very disappointing to me because I don't like Cavendish. It's so bland in my taste opinion. I like strong and tasty flavour, full of life. You could say that my taste is just similar to the South East Asian tastes, they like it that way and would find Cavendish types really bland.

And I don't really know if Oricono banana is common in Australia just like it's common in the US. I can't really comment on that as I was not the buyer of the plant, it was given to my wife.


Anyway, for this newly unidentified banana below, note the pink colour on its trunk and it's broad leaves and its short height. Could it be a dwarf? Could it be...?

https://s28.postimg.org/7zfdt6fwd/16667346_10154707367316917_104900276_o.jpg

https://s28.postimg.org/7k4405tz1/16651097_10154707367351917_203928859_o.jpg

sputinc7
02-08-2017, 08:01 AM
It sounds like you would be happier with cultivars such as Manzano, Veinte Cohol, Mysore or, my favorite, Paggi...Lots of flavor but not very banana-ey tasting, more tart and fruity. ...

While I don't care much for them, many people like Namwah... I find them somewhat bland, myself...

robguz24
02-08-2017, 01:17 PM
Orinocos don't taste anything like cavendish types to me, nor do any of the Bluggo group ones I've had. Although I'd probably reach for a decent cavendish before I'd eat a Bluggo type. I find the mushy/fluffy texture a bit off putting. They're decent cooked and fine in smoothies.

Tytaylor77
02-08-2017, 07:29 PM
Totally agree with Rob. Taste is nothing like a cavendish. The taste of Orinoco is ok to me when all yellow. The taste is much sweeter and better when it has a lot of black but it gets really mushy. They are great cooked. And they are very cold hardy and if a bunch is picked green it can take all winter to ripen. So bananas to eat all winter. I have 5 bunches still hanging inside right now still green. Still it's a great producer and must have outside of the tropics.