Tog Tan

This is a bunch of immature fruits with the bud still intact.

Hi people. I think I will do a series on the cultivars from M'sia since they are not well known internationally.

The first is a darn weird cultivar which is completely tasteless!!! Well, to be fair, it does taste like a potato when cooked... With the attitude of waste not want not, this has been a cooking 'naner taking the place of the 'taters in curry if they are available. Thus the local name; Pisang Kari (this is the way curry is spelt in Malay).

I first encountered this 'naner when I was in the jungles with the govt's immigration dept who were doing the ID cards for the Orang Asli. They brought many combs(hands as you people call it) for us to eat. Being a city bloke, I thought I was gonna have a feast until my first bite...I almost spat it out cos it didn't taste like any 'naner I have eaten. Then another Orang Asli gave me a couple which he had thrown into the ambers to cook. Well, they tasted like potatos to me and since then this weird tasting 'naner has gotten stuck in my head!

I have not encountered this 'naner until recently as it is something which is not popular due to its practically total lack of taste. Of all the places, I found a couple of clumps along a busy road near my house. They always have 'naners on them though they are not maintained by anyone. Not knowing what they were earlier, I cut a bunch once out of curiosity and to my disappointed they turned out to be Pisang Kari. I guess every greedy curious dude has done it in the neighborhood and had a taste of it(or tasteless) so that is why the plants always have fruits on them!


These fruits are near maturity, I will give it another 3 weeks before harvest.


The pix shows both the upper and under surface of the leaf.


Though this clump is not maintained at all, I have observed that it's growth has been steady with a healthy profuse production of pups. As you can see the number of cars on the road, if these were tasty 'naners they would have been long gone!


It is not a big plant as you can see with me in the pix as a comparison.

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

Bob

Very interesting plant to me. I assume it still has some of the nutritional value of a banana/ plaintain and the fact that it's tasteless should be looked at as an advantage. A lot of people eat tofu and I think in cooking this cultivar should be looked at much the same. It would pick up on the flavorings of what it was cooked with.

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Dalmatiansoap

This is going to be interesting thread Tog. I was wondering how nobody is picking them . All clear now. Anyway nice naner. Like light coloring.

P.S.
U R driving on left side of road?

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harveyc

Thanks, Tog, great presentation!

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Magilla Gorilla

Wouldn't it be cool to have bananas growing wild on the side of the road! Even better, to be able to wear shorts all year round! Thanks for the pictures and info!

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Andrew

harveyc

Tog, I just noticed your bag. Is that a banana knife you've got there?

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lorax

Neat - it looks a lot like an Ecuadorean cultivar that the Kichua call "Platano Pelma" - they figure it tastes like cooked Xanthosoma roots.

Tog Tan

We drive like the Brits, Ante, RIGHT side of the road!

That's my waist pouch of a thousand crap! No I don't carry a 'naner knife but a nice Thai made evil lookin' one!

Beth, it isn't even near the taste of anything! Totally bland!

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.