Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

I couldn't resist buying this since I've been wanting one, but I've gotten mislabeled bananas at the box stores before. So do you think this is the real deal?

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

Just curious, does it have a redish colored midrib on the leaves? If it does it could be a namwah,which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

The problem of not getting an ice cream is the source where the big box stores get their plants from. If there is pink in it then it is a namwah

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

I have a IceCream/Blue Java that turned out to be a Namwah. Nice looking plant,grows well. Some day maybe fruit. Seems to be a common plant substitute. Tissue culture people are getting their tissue from a Namwah instead of the real IceCream/Blue Java. I think that org. members even tried to donate the real deal IceCream to the tissue culture people to try to get this problem resolved. I guess to accept would mean to admit that there is a problem in the first place. Enjoy your Namwah. If you want the real deal, I would try to get it from a org. member that knows what they are growing. Just my 2.
:08:

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

I checked and it's all green so far. How soon does the pink show on a Namwah?

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

As Jamie said, a reddish pink midrib on the leaf and on thwarting of the leaf.

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

As big as yours looks it should have a red midrib but if it stays all green you might have an Ice Cream! But there are many others it could be but if it's not an ice cream then it is most likely a Namwah.

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

Let's say it this way: you would be the first person to my knowledge that has bought a correctly labeled Blue Java plant from a "Big Box" store.

Does your label refer to a particular nursery? I cannot zoom in to get a clear picture but your label looks like a mislabeled BJ from La Verne origin.

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

Not very good odds! Here's a close up of the label.

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

I have similar issue with my supposedly Ice Cream banana purchased from a local nursery. The problem is not all the mature leaves of pink midrib, only a couple of them, and my fruit definitely dose not look like Ice Cream / Blue Java...

I love this forum, it really helps to have all the banana experts help us out misidentified varieties... but I wonder if mine is Namwah or something else... I will be happy to start a new thread if need be, here are a few of my banana photos.

Planted the pup May of 2014. Flowered July 2015 and waiting for the fruit to start ripening any time now.

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

It's a namwah.

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

I'm pretty sure mine is too now. The new leaves have pink mid ribs. :( Not that I mind a Namwa, it's just that it wasn't my first choice and I have limited room.

Here is the plant with the current new leaf. The mid rib is pink on both surfaces.

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

Me too, I am still on the hunt for a true Ice Cream. Hubby just gave me a bunch of space in the backyard for growing, so I am going to get two more varieties of bananas to grow. Just can't decide which ones yet. Definitely going to try and find an Ice Cream, either locally in Phoenix or online somewhere... :08:

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

Nawah is supposed to taste better, if that is why you are wanting one, according to a lot of people. But you probably won't get a true Blue Java unless it's from somebody on here, etc. Most sellers online are selling tissue culture Namwah as Blue Java.

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

siege2050, thanks for chiming in on this. When I first researched on which banana to get, it seems like Ice Cream was the best tasting. But now that I am researching on here, most members suggest that Namwah tastes better. I will probably stop searching fro Ice Cream as hard as I have been then.

Now I just have to start looking in our previous threads to see what are other interesting and better tasting bananas that I should try. :-)

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

I think the reason why people said Ice Cream was better tasting is because they were actually eating Namwah by mistake lol

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

LOL! You might be right!!!! :ha:

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

Of the 40 or so types I've tasted, I put Ice Cream in the bottom 1/4. Some can be good, but even the best one I've had isn't wonderful. If they weren't called Ice Cream I doubt many would seek them out aside from the novelty of them being blue while they grow. Namwah can also be good, but it's certainly not in my top 10. I'd start with what you are certain you can get to fruit where you live and go from there. If you can get your hands on a Mysore or a Dwarf Brazilian, those are both far superior to Namwah & Ice Cream.

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

Awesome input Rob! Finding varieties that will thrive in the low desert area does post somewhat of a challenge. I wish I can have the opportunity to taste these interesting varieties before planting, but I am going to take you guys' advice of passing on the Ice Cream for sure. I am going to look into the Mysore or a Dwarf Brazilian. How would you describe the flavor for those two?

Re: Ice Cream/Blue Java banana?
 

Here's a taste report on the tall Brazilian, which tastes the same: http://www.bananas.org/f2/tall-brazi...ort-21194.html

And mine on Mysore: http://www.bananas.org/f2/mysore-tas...ort-18251.html

And my Namwah report: http://www.bananas.org/f2/tall-namwa...ort-18390.html

If you search above for "taste report" you'll find several others.