which banana has the best flavor in your opinion?

trachcanman99 · 07-21-2016, 07:03 AM

I see all kinds of threads but one that just talks about threads and I would like to know which ones have the best flavor. Today I have a mystery tree donated by a neighbor years ago when he was digging them up and one ice cream banana which though small had an excellent banana flavor. Looking for a few more to consider so I have bananas to eat while waiting for my citrus to get ripe.

Richard · 07-21-2016, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trachcanman99

... I would like to know which ones have the best flavor. ...

It greatly depends upon the environment in which they are grown.

mushtaq86 · 07-21-2016, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

It greatly depends upon the environment in which they are grown.

And individual taste

Richard · 07-21-2016, 03:36 PM

Robert's profile states that he is in zone 9B, Friendswood. I believe that translates to Friendswood TX.

Based on the Average climate in Friendswood, Texas reported by city-data.com, I recommend that Robert tries both Namwa and Pisang Ceylon. Given the wind in his area they will need to be staked.

Tytaylor77 · 07-21-2016, 03:39 PM

i haven't tried many. Only Orinoco, Namwa, Nino, cavendish, plantain. By far my favorite has been Namwa.

I have Goldfinger, Manzano, and Veinte cohol bunches now so my favorite may change later this year.

Try searching for taste reports. There are lots here and are very helpful. They are some of my favorite posts on here and I can't thank the taste report owners enough for sharing their info and opinions.

meizzwang · 07-21-2016, 05:03 PM

I have only one experience with "homegrown" bananas, and it was with a dwarf cavendish. Others on this forum have described the flavor of Dwarf Cavendish as being the same as a store bought banana (ie. don't bother with this variety), but that wasn't even close to what I experienced. I tried one from the UC Davis greenhouse, and it was "vine ripened". Texture was like a regular cavendish, but the flavor had a strong floral and berry undertone to it....just out of this world in terms of flavor! Sadly, I've never been able to fruit it outdoors in zone9b...even after 7 years!

Long story short, aside from personal people's opinions, I believe any cultivar can have different flavor profiles depending on the environment and how it was grown/harvested.

Hamakua · 07-21-2016, 07:13 PM

Tuu ghia

Richard · 07-21-2016, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meizzwang

... I tried one from the UC Davis greenhouse, and it was vine ripened. ...

Bananas do not grow on vines.

Quote:

Originally Posted by meizzwang

... Long story short, aside from personal people's opinions, I believe any cultivar can have different flavor profiles depending on the environment and how it was grown/harvested.

Very true.

Juicy Bananas · 07-22-2016, 12:26 AM

Fe'i, as a cooker. The Pisang Awak ,"Namwa" is by far one of the best tasting.

trachcanman99 · 07-22-2016, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

It greatly depends upon the environment in which they are grown.

I am master gardener who specializes in fruit trees and am well aware soil conditions, climate, and conditions contribute to the taste of anything you are growing. Even what zone you live in may not produce the same caliber of fruit someone else grows in another part of that same zone. microclimates affect fruit production more than most people realize.
I am just looking for what people have eaten and thought were really good as a starting point.

meizzwang · 07-22-2016, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Bananas do not grow on vines.

Very true.

It's a figure of speech.... I think everyone gets the point

Richard · 07-22-2016, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trachcanman99

I am master gardener who specializes in fruit trees and am well aware soil conditions, climate, ...

The best tasting banana I've had was grown and ripened in the tropics (zone 12). A pup of that plant when grown in here zone 10a produced poor fruit.

Kat2 · 07-22-2016, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

The best tasting banana I've had was grown and ripened in the tropics (zone 12). A pup of that plant when grown in here zone 10a produced poor fruit.

Just a note but I've grown tomatoes for many years--yummy ones. Here in FL? The few I've managed to harvest taste like FL tomatoes which is not very good. I'll keep adding organic stuff to my garden and hoping for a change. But perhaps you just can't grow a delicious tomato down here...haven't tasted a banana from my yard yet...I sure hope it's not lousy.

trachcanman99 · 07-22-2016, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kat2

Just a note but I've grown tomatoes for many years--yummy ones. Here in FL? The few I've managed to harvest taste like FL tomatoes which is not very good. I'll keep adding organic stuff to my garden and hoping for a change. But perhaps you just can't grow a delicious tomato down here...haven't tasted a banana from my yard yet...I sure hope it's not lousy.

you need to start testing varieties to find one or two that do taste good when grown where you are.Check the ones you can order from the University of Hawaii, they are heat tolerant and have good flavor.
In fact some guy in Florida developed a good tasting tomato that ships well and grows to consistent size and tried to get the commercial growers to look at it but they don't care about taste only are they all about the same size, get to picking size at the same time and ship well. I just wish I could have found out where to get some of the seeds but the article didn't say.

sputinc7 · 07-22-2016, 05:54 PM

I will second that Kat... I have tried many and even grown my own and Florida tomatoes suck. I, of course, will keep trying as there has to be something I am missing...

robguz24 · 07-22-2016, 06:59 PM

My favorites seem to change all the time. I can barely even eat Namwahs at this point. Tu'u Ghia is one of the best and relatively new for me but I'm sure I'll get sick of them too. Dwarf Brazilian remains my overall favorite still. Lately been eating Maolis ripe and they are surprisingly good.

sputinc7 · 07-22-2016, 07:11 PM

I know some don't like them, and I don't care, Brazilians are pretty doggone good if you ask me. The "apple bananas" I had in Kauai on my honeymoon were awesome, and those are supposedly Brazilians. Mine I grew here were good, too.
I have to say, Having tasted Mysore, thanks to Nick Naranja, They were much better than expected. I had heard how tart they were, and had not desired them, but they are not all that tart compared to manzanos.

Lau · 07-22-2016, 07:46 PM

I like Namwah's. They are tasty and reliable, because they are hard to kill and fruit every year. I also like Jamaican Red bananas. Two bad things about Jamaican Red plants are they take a long time to fruit and they are also cold sensitive. The third banana plant is Monrovia nursery Dwarf Giant. My plant only flowered one year, but the bananas were delicious.

I hope that helps. I might have a new favorite banana this year, because I have three new plants blooming. Gros Michel (probably), Armstrong Goldfinger (unknown), and Thousand Finger (definitely).

Susan

Richard · 07-22-2016, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lau

... Armstrong Goldfinger ...

Namwa.

crazy banana · 07-23-2016, 12:23 AM

Namwah and all Mysore varieties (Pisang Klotek, Pisang Ceylon).

07-21-2016, 07:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
trachcanman99 Location: Friendswood Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Robert Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 13 BananaBucks : 6,570 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 16 Times Was Thanked 14 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	which banana has the best flavor in your opinion? I see all kinds of threads but one that just talks about threads and I would like to know which ones have the best flavor. Today I have a mystery tree donated by a neighbor years ago when he was digging them up and one ice cream banana which though small had an excellent banana flavor. Looking for a few more to consider so I have bananas to eat while waiting for my citrus to get ripe. __________________ if you can't eat it why invest all that work?

07-21-2016, 03:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 507,294 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,543 Times in 4,721 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: which banana has the best flavor in your opinion? Robert's profile states that he is in zone 9B, Friendswood. I believe that translates to Friendswood TX. Based on the Average climate in Friendswood, Texas reported by city-data.com, I recommend that Robert tries both Namwa and Pisang Ceylon. Given the wind in his area they will need to be staked. __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

07-21-2016, 03:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tytaylor77 Banana Plants for Trade Location: East Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Ty Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 1,367 BananaBucks : 47,632 Feedback: 11 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,612 Times Was Thanked 3,726 Times in 1,185 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 424 Times	Re: which banana has the best flavor in your opinion? i haven't tried many. Only Orinoco, Namwa, Nino, cavendish, plantain. By far my favorite has been Namwa. I have Goldfinger, Manzano, and Veinte cohol bunches now so my favorite may change later this year. Try searching for taste reports. There are lots here and are very helpful. They are some of my favorite posts on here and I can't thank the taste report owners enough for sharing their info and opinions. __________________ 150+ Varieties!!. See profile for list. Help me add more! CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF MY MUSA COLLECTION! www.bananapups.com

07-21-2016, 05:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
meizzwang Zone: 9b Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 235 BananaBucks : 69,128 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 647 Times Was Thanked 1,031 Times in 218 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: which banana has the best flavor in your opinion? I have only one experience with "homegrown" bananas, and it was with a dwarf cavendish. Others on this forum have described the flavor of Dwarf Cavendish as being the same as a store bought banana (ie. don't bother with this variety), but that wasn't even close to what I experienced. I tried one from the UC Davis greenhouse, and it was "vine ripened". Texture was like a regular cavendish, but the flavor had a strong floral and berry undertone to it....just out of this world in terms of flavor! Sadly, I've never been able to fruit it outdoors in zone9b...even after 7 years! Long story short, aside from personal people's opinions, I believe any cultivar can have different flavor profiles depending on the environment and how it was grown/harvested. Last edited by meizzwang : 07-22-2016 at 11:51 AM.

07-21-2016, 07:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
Hamakua Location: Santa Cruz, CA Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 181 BananaBucks : 23,432 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 187 Times Was Thanked 324 Times in 108 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 18 Times	Re: which banana has the best flavor in your opinion? Tuu ghia __________________ Currently Growing: Blue Java, FHIA 01, Gros Michelle, Dwarf Orinoco, Maoli Ele Ele, Maoli Manini, Maoli Dwarf Kaualau, Putalinga Kula, Iholena Lele, Iholena Ula Ula, Iholena Iholena, Iholena Kapua, Unknown purple leafed Iholena, Tuu Ghia, Tagomor, Luba, Kokor, Vunumami, Hapai

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07-22-2016, 12:26 AM	#9 (permalink)
Juicy Bananas Location: Big Island Zone: 10 Name: Alva Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 170 BananaBucks : 9,280 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 259 Times in 121 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: which banana has the best flavor in your opinion? Fe'i, as a cooker. The Pisang Awak ,"Namwa" is by far one of the best tasting.

07-22-2016, 05:54 PM	#15 (permalink)
sputinc7 Location: Palm Bay, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Steve Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,394 BananaBucks : 101,688 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 352 Times Was Thanked 2,430 Times in 971 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 295 Times	Re: which banana has the best flavor in your opinion? I will second that Kat... I have tried many and even grown my own and Florida tomatoes suck. I, of course, will keep trying as there has to be something I am missing... __________________ If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win. https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel. What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

07-22-2016, 06:59 PM	#16 (permalink)
robguz24 Rob Location: Kalapana, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 11 Name: Rob Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,506 BananaBucks : 260,873 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,320 Times Was Thanked 4,961 Times in 1,080 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 204 Times	Re: which banana has the best flavor in your opinion? My favorites seem to change all the time. I can barely even eat Namwahs at this point. Tu'u Ghia is one of the best and relatively new for me but I'm sure I'll get sick of them too. Dwarf Brazilian remains my overall favorite still. Lately been eating Maolis ripe and they are surprisingly good. __________________ My micro-farm Stay on my Big Island banana farm cottage

07-22-2016, 07:11 PM	#17 (permalink)
sputinc7 Location: Palm Bay, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Steve Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,394 BananaBucks : 101,688 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 352 Times Was Thanked 2,430 Times in 971 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 295 Times	Re: which banana has the best flavor in your opinion? I know some don't like them, and I don't care, Brazilians are pretty doggone good if you ask me. The "apple bananas" I had in Kauai on my honeymoon were awesome, and those are supposedly Brazilians. Mine I grew here were good, too. I have to say, Having tasted Mysore, thanks to Nick Naranja, They were much better than expected. I had heard how tart they were, and had not desired them, but they are not all that tart compared to manzanos. __________________ If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win. https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel. What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

07-22-2016, 07:46 PM	#18 (permalink)
Lau Location: Long Beach, California Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Susan Lau Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 573 BananaBucks : 77,392 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9,337 Times Was Thanked 948 Times in 343 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 624 Times	Re: which banana has the best flavor in your opinion? I like Namwah's. They are tasty and reliable, because they are hard to kill and fruit every year. I also like Jamaican Red bananas. Two bad things about Jamaican Red plants are they take a long time to fruit and they are also cold sensitive. The third banana plant is Monrovia nursery Dwarf Giant. My plant only flowered one year, but the bananas were delicious. I hope that helps. I might have a new favorite banana this year, because I have three new plants blooming. Gros Michel (probably), Armstrong Goldfinger (unknown), and Thousand Finger (definitely). Susan

07-23-2016, 12:23 AM	#20 (permalink)
crazy banana Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,641 BananaBucks : 10,037 Feedback: 73 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,021 Times Was Thanked 2,961 Times in 1,115 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,969 Times	Re: which banana has the best flavor in your opinion? Namwah and all Mysore varieties (Pisang Klotek, Pisang Ceylon).

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