Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

I was speaking to a USDA official the other day who is an immigrant from India and I brought up the subject of bananas and the diversity in India. He said that the part of the country he comes from has a banana which has a very nice fruit with a peel that is edible. He didn't give me a name (maybe it doesn't have one that I'd understand), but he did say that this was in a tropical climate so it's probably something that wouldn't make it at my place anyways. Anybody here ever hear of such a banana?

Thanks

Harvey

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

Are you looking for the banana high? (circa 1965)

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

Well, I've never heard of a banana with an edible peel. I'm a little bit skeptical. To be honest, there are a lot of things that they eat in other countries that I don't want any part of...banana peels are one of them. If you find a variety with a tasty peel, let me know, but I'm kinda unsure about this one. Seems like an Indian urban legend to me.

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

This would be interesting! Possibly he meant "an edible banana with a peel" but I'm pretty certain he meant what we're thinking!

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

Bryan, this is a USDA official who is highly regarded and your urban legend comment is completely unfounded.

Taylor, he clearly said that there was no need to peel the banana and that the entire fruit was edible and very good. It seemed like it was his favorite banana.

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

I would be interested in this. I drive people nuts by eating roasted peanuts shell and all.

Re: Indian Banana with edible peels?
 

I figured but was just making sure. Thanks, Harvey.

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

Howard, I guess you're nuts about nuts! :P

I wonder if the skin on this banana is thin and might split easily. I'd love to visit India with this guy. He's been a geneticist for about 30 years and is full of interesting information. I'd also like to try as many of the mangoes in India as I could. There's one mango tree in India with over 300 varieties on it.

Ken Love, the banana poster creator from Hawaii is going to India for a couple of months and he told me that he is going to visit a friend in India who has 390 types of bananas. Hard to imagine. Of course, I tried to see if he could import some for me but it looks like it will be tough to do as he has a busy schedule and the fees are really crazy. We may still try, though.

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

I think they taste better that way, too. Now as to the banana fruit that can be eaten with the peel, that would be interesting. I wonder if it is an acquired taste as most of the bananas that I bite into have an awfully astringent peel. I know this when I get one that doesn't peel correctly. So I just bite the end bottom end off. It could be like kumquats. Hope someone finds out what it's called. Maybe Dr Parmar knows?

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

I asked him to e-mail me more about the banana and I mentioned that we were trying to get Dr. Parmar to ship us some bananas. He said he knew who Dr. Parmar but that they are from different parts of the country. I'll send him an e-mail to ask him about the banana and hope for a reply.

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

Well this is truly a conundrum! Please dispel some more information on this situation as permits! I'm very perplexed by the complexity of this question! Dispel my ignorances!

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

Bryan, I've shot off an e-mail and will post whatever I find out. I'd be more excited about this if I lived in zone 10. I would have probably already applied for my import permit if I did! LOL

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

On my side, so far none of the 'naner peels are edible. The Thai skewer the Klauy Kai like a kebab and roast it and many of them eat the 'naner with the peel as it is very thin. The pulp of the Kluay Kai breaks up when cooked, so the best way to eat it is to roast it peel and all to keep the pulp intact. When cooked like this, it tastes like sugar. Maybe this is how the peel is eaten.

I guess your WC is pretty shell ridden like bullet ridden? :ha:

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

Not bad, thesaurically speaking. :ha:

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

LOL...thanks, glad I entertained you. Don't get me started on crazy words...I'm a huge fan. Here's one for you: phosphatidylethanolamine.....or how about choledochojejunostomy. Ah...good times. :)

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

It's ok, I got your back, although it has been 36 years since I was pre-med.

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

Tog, I tried some of these in a market in Thailand. They were great!



Oh how I miss that wonderful country sometimes...and not just for its bananas either... ;)

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

SO what's all the hubub about over there right now? All I can find is that there are anit-government demonstrations gone bad. There is a deposed Prime Minister and a new one in place. It doesn't make sense.

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

Sorry Harv, slightly off topic here..
Oi Scot, it's a big family quarrel. If you have been there, you will keep going back. I first went in more than 10 yrs ago and got into a nasty tourist ripoff situation in a pub and had to be pulled out by my friend cos I was so pissed that I wanted to fight with the bouncer. I vowed never to go back again but then later, I started doing business with them and now I call it my second home. The greatest things there in order of my personal preference; Plants, People, Food.
Bkk is a big place, even if there's any problems or violence, it happens only in certain places. If you keep clear of those places, life's all normal. The airport shut down was a 1st time bad happenin'. It's a real great place, don't miss going there in your lifetime.

Re: Indian Bananawith edible peels?
 

[quote=Chironex;70234]It could be like kumquats.

Exactly what I was thinking! The kumquat of the banana world!