Maya Hawaiian Plantain

harveyc · 07-24-2008, 01:22 AM

Is anyone familiar with this plantain? What's the cultivar name?

A fruit grower from Hawaii was discussing on another forum that plantains are fine as a dessert banana but that you need to let them get very ripe. This initially came up in the discussion of Ae Ae fruits.

Another friend, also from California like myself, found some "Maya Hawaiian Plantains" in a market here in NorCal. He has traveled around the world extensively and has eaten many different fruits and is quite selective. But he later reported that after allowing these plantains to ripen, he considered them to be the best tasting banana he has ever had.

Today I had a surprise package in the mail, a box which contained two of these plantains. I don't have time for photos now (will work around the clock tonight as it is), but I'm very curious about these things. They are between 3 and 3.5 inches thick and 6 to 8 inches long. They are big!

I did some searching and see that Maya is part of the Ladex corporation of Miami and this company mostly deals in shrimp and fish. I can't find out much about these.

Thanks in advance,

Harvey

chong · 07-24-2008, 01:35 AM

The only bananas that I know that are that thick are the Hua Moa and the Popoulu, which according to some are the same fruit anyway. Do the fruits that you have, have roundish ends, i.e., as opposed to a bottleneck?

chong · 07-24-2008, 01:40 AM

Also, does the pulp of the fruit you received have orange-pink pulp? If so, then it is the Hua Moa/Popoulu.

harveyc · 07-24-2008, 01:51 AM

Okay, I took a photo. Let's say you would have a tough time poking your eye out with it!

The fruit is not ripe yet, I don't know what the color the flesh will be.

chong · 07-24-2008, 02:04 AM

Popoulu/Hua Moa! Without question.

Gabe15 · 07-24-2008, 02:07 AM

Maya is a misspelling of the Hawaiian word for banana, mai'a (pronounced as my-ah, with a break in between). That fruit you have is a Hua Moa, or another similar member of the Popo'ulu subgroup of Pacific traditional banana varieties (there are various kinds and they go by different names throughout the Pacific). They are generally regarded as cooking bananas (though as mentioned, can be eaten raw when ripe enough) and should not be confused with true plantains, which are very different.

harveyc · 07-24-2008, 03:16 AM

Cool, especially since I have a Hua Moa coming from Sandy any day now.

I had seen photos of them before but didn't even connect them as I hadn't thought they were this big. Grab a couple of these and you're prepared for a short journey!

Also, my wife likes peanut butter and banana sandwiches and a length-wise slice of one of these should be just the ticket if I let it ripen enough.

Thanks Chong and Gabe!

Bananaman88 · 07-24-2008, 06:28 AM

Nice! I just got a Hua Moa from Sandy a few weeks ago and it is growing nicely. I'm hoping for fruit next year!

harveyc · 07-24-2008, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabe15

Maya is a misspelling of the Hawaiian word for banana, mai'a (pronounced as my-ah, with a break in between). That fruit you have is a Hua Moa, or another similar member of the Popo'ulu subgroup of Pacific traditional banana varieties (there are various kinds and they go by different names throughout the Pacific). They are generally regarded as cooking bananas (though as mentioned, can be eaten raw when ripe enough) and should not be confused with true plantains, which are very different.

Gabe, I don't think Maya in this context probably has anything to do with the Hawaiian name for bananas. The distributor is the Miami-based Ladex Corp. (see LADEX. Distributors of Maya Products.) and they put the Maya name on various products of shrimp and other types of fish. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but a very interesting one at that!

Gabe15 · 07-24-2008, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harveyc

Gabe, I don't think Maya in this context probably has anything to do with the Hawaiian name for bananas. The distributor is the Miami-based Ladex Corp. (see LADEX. Distributors of Maya Products.) and they put the Maya name on various products of shrimp and other types of fish. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but a very interesting one at that!

Oh...well, cool coincidence then!

Gabe15 · 07-24-2008, 12:05 PM

'Hua Moa' at the Fruit and Spice Park, Homestead, FL.

harveyc · 07-24-2008, 01:43 PM

Yeah, I saw that in the wiki and wondered where that was from. I hope mine arrives safely and grows up and fruits here in zone 9. The wiki says it is damaged at 40F but then also says it is rated hardy to zone 8-9. Thanks to Sandy, I think several of us will be testing it out.

Is Hua Moa grown commercially in Florida? I don't know if my bananas came from Florida or someplace else.

Luis Echeverria · 09-04-2008, 12:57 PM

Guys,
Hi, how are you?! I am starting a project where I need hua moa variety. We are growers of cavendish bananas in Ecuador but would be looking forward to start growing hua moa. Does anybody know where can I get corms for this variety?
Thank you in advance.
Best Regards,
Luis

MediaHound · 09-04-2008, 07:03 PM

I cut my Hua Moa bunch down recently and someone stole it from my front porch when I was out of town for a couple days!

chong · 09-04-2008, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MediaHound

I cut my Hua Moa bunch down recently and someone stole it from my front porch when I was out of town for a couple days!

I hate it when someone steals from my yard. I'd be fuming if it were bananas from my plants. Sorry to hear that Jarred.

island cassie · 09-04-2008, 07:15 PM

That is outrageous Jarred! What next - chain them down? So sorry!
Cassie

NANAMAN · 09-04-2008, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MediaHound

I cut my Hua Moa bunch down recently and someone stole it from my front porch when I was out of town for a couple days!

They took it from your front porch? Makes you wish that you showed up with your fully charged and loaded paint ball gun about that time doesn't it?

Magilla Gorilla · 09-04-2008, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MediaHound

I cut my Hua Moa bunch down recently and someone stole it from my front porch when I was out of town for a couple days!

Though I live in Santa Barbara, CA my New York heritage would come out if someone stole my plants! I'm sorry to hear someone is that shallow.

Andrew

magicgreen · 09-04-2008, 11:14 PM

Thats a d*mn shame!!!
No matter where you live, seems like there's always a scandalous,rotten idiot!!!

Chironex · 09-04-2008, 11:22 PM

Darn scousers! (Nod to 51st State for teaching this one to me)

07-24-2008, 01:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,122 BananaBucks : 397,188 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,030 Times Was Thanked 4,462 Times in 1,898 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,785 Times	Maya Hawaiian Plantain (Hua Moa) Is anyone familiar with this plantain? What's the cultivar name? A fruit grower from Hawaii was discussing on another forum that plantains are fine as a dessert banana but that you need to let them get very ripe. This initially came up in the discussion of Ae Ae fruits. Another friend, also from California like myself, found some "Maya Hawaiian Plantains" in a market here in NorCal. He has traveled around the world extensively and has eaten many different fruits and is quite selective. But he later reported that after allowing these plantains to ripen, he considered them to be the best tasting banana he has ever had. Today I had a surprise package in the mail, a box which contained two of these plantains. I don't have time for photos now (will work around the clock tonight as it is), but I'm very curious about these things. They are between 3 and 3.5 inches thick and 6 to 8 inches long. They are big! I did some searching and see that Maya is part of the Ladex corporation of Miami and this company mostly deals in shrimp and fish. I can't find out much about these. Thanks in advance, Harvey __________________ Last edited by harveyc : 07-24-2008 at 01:41 PM.

07-24-2008, 01:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
chong Senior Member chong's Photo Gallery Location: Seattle, WA Find me on the map! Zone: 8-9 Name: Chong Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,851 BananaBucks : 114,985 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,309 Times Was Thanked 1,702 Times in 759 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 991 Times	Re: Maya Hawaiian Plantain The only bananas that I know that are that thick are the Hua Moa and the Popoulu, which according to some are the same fruit anyway. Do the fruits that you have, have roundish ends, i.e., as opposed to a bottleneck? Last edited by chong : 07-24-2008 at 01:41 AM. Reason: Finished a sentence.

07-24-2008, 01:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
chong Senior Member chong's Photo Gallery Location: Seattle, WA Find me on the map! Zone: 8-9 Name: Chong Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,851 BananaBucks : 114,985 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,309 Times Was Thanked 1,702 Times in 759 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 991 Times	Re: Maya Hawaiian Plantain Also, does the pulp of the fruit you received have orange-pink pulp? If so, then it is the Hua Moa/Popoulu.

07-24-2008, 01:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,122 BananaBucks : 397,188 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,030 Times Was Thanked 4,462 Times in 1,898 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,785 Times	Re: Maya Hawaiian Plantain Okay, I took a photo. Let's say you would have a tough time poking your eye out with it! The fruit is not ripe yet, I don't know what the color the flesh will be. __________________

07-24-2008, 02:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
chong Senior Member chong's Photo Gallery Location: Seattle, WA Find me on the map! Zone: 8-9 Name: Chong Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,851 BananaBucks : 114,985 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,309 Times Was Thanked 1,702 Times in 759 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 991 Times	Re: Maya Hawaiian Plantain Popoulu/Hua Moa! Without question.

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07-24-2008, 02:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
Gabe15 Moderator Gabe15's Photo Gallery Location: Oahu, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 12 Name: Gabe Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,892 BananaBucks : 13,447,923 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 8,244 Times in 2,201 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Maya Hawaiian Plantain Maya is a misspelling of the Hawaiian word for banana, mai'a (pronounced as my-ah, with a break in between). That fruit you have is a Hua Moa, or another similar member of the Popo'ulu subgroup of Pacific traditional banana varieties (there are various kinds and they go by different names throughout the Pacific). They are generally regarded as cooking bananas (though as mentioned, can be eaten raw when ripe enough) and should not be confused with true plantains, which are very different. __________________ Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

07-24-2008, 03:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,122 BananaBucks : 397,188 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,030 Times Was Thanked 4,462 Times in 1,898 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,785 Times	Re: Maya Hawaiian Plantain Cool, especially since I have a Hua Moa coming from Sandy any day now. I had seen photos of them before but didn't even connect them as I hadn't thought they were this big. Grab a couple of these and you're prepared for a short journey! Also, my wife likes peanut butter and banana sandwiches and a length-wise slice of one of these should be just the ticket if I let it ripen enough. Thanks Chong and Gabe! __________________

07-24-2008, 06:28 AM	#8 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 290,525 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Maya Hawaiian Plantain Nice! I just got a Hua Moa from Sandy a few weeks ago and it is growing nicely. I'm hoping for fruit next year!

07-24-2008, 12:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
Gabe15 Moderator Gabe15's Photo Gallery Location: Oahu, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 12 Name: Gabe Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,892 BananaBucks : 13,447,923 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 8,244 Times in 2,201 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Maya Hawaiian Plantain 'Hua Moa' at the Fruit and Spice Park, Homestead, FL. __________________ Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

07-24-2008, 01:43 PM	#12 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,122 BananaBucks : 397,188 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,030 Times Was Thanked 4,462 Times in 1,898 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,785 Times	Re: Maya Hawaiian Plantain Yeah, I saw that in the wiki and wondered where that was from. I hope mine arrives safely and grows up and fruits here in zone 9. The wiki says it is damaged at 40F but then also says it is rated hardy to zone 8-9. Thanks to Sandy, I think several of us will be testing it out. Is Hua Moa grown commercially in Florida? I don't know if my bananas came from Florida or someplace else. __________________

09-04-2008, 12:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
Luis Echeverria Location: Miami, FL Zone: 10 - 11 Name: Lalo Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 4 BananaBucks : 3,774 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Maya Hawaiian Plantain Guys, Hi, how are you?! I am starting a project where I need hua moa variety. We are growers of cavendish bananas in Ecuador but would be looking forward to start growing hua moa. Does anybody know where can I get corms for this variety? Thank you in advance. Best Regards, Luis

09-04-2008, 07:03 PM	#14 (permalink)
MediaHound Tally-Man MediaHound's Photo Gallery Location: Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Jarred Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5,273 BananaBucks : 2,401,135 Feedback: 66 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,882 Times Was Thanked 5,105 Times in 1,359 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,088 Times	Re: Maya Hawaiian Plantain I cut my Hua Moa bunch down recently and someone stole it from my front porch when I was out of town for a couple days! __________________ Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

09-04-2008, 07:15 PM	#16 (permalink)
island cassie island cassie's Photo Gallery Location: Dominican Republic Find me on the map! Zone: 11+ I guess Name: Island Cassie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,170 BananaBucks : 501,078 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,708 Times Was Thanked 2,079 Times in 874 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 416 Times	Re: Maya Hawaiian Plantain That is outrageous Jarred! What next - chain them down? So sorry! Cassie

09-04-2008, 11:14 PM	#19 (permalink)
magicgreen magicgreen's Photo Gallery Location: cincinnati OH. Z6 Find me on the map! Zone: Z6 Name: Lynn Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 840 BananaBucks : 28,119 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 422 Times Was Thanked 208 Times in 141 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 124 Times	Re: Maya Hawaiian Plantain Thats a d*mn shame!!! No matter where you live, seems like there's always a scandalous,rotten idiot!!! __________________ (Started growing bananas July 2007) (Zone 6)

09-04-2008, 11:22 PM	#20 (permalink)
Chironex The causasian Asian! Chironex's Photo Gallery Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Find me on the map! Zone: I have no idea Name: Scot Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,788 BananaBucks : 160,830 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,544 Times Was Thanked 1,406 Times in 808 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 609 Times	Re: Maya Hawaiian Plantain Darn scousers! (Nod to 51st State for teaching this one to me) __________________ Scot

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