What are the best tasting banana varieties to you?

Bananagardendreamboy · 08-17-2022, 05:21 PM

Is blue Java a bit overrated in the taste department?

sddarkman619 · 08-17-2022, 06:08 PM

You either love them, or you don't.
I don't really care for them but my wife loves them.

sddarkman619 · 08-17-2022, 06:43 PM

I like goldfingers, brazillians, iholenas, plantains(cooked/fried)

Bananagardendreamboy · 08-17-2022, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sddarkman619

I like goldfingers, brazillians, iholenas, plantains(cooked/fried)

Do you use burrow Orinoco bananas as a plantain or let them ripen like a dessert banana? I’d probably like to get a goldfinger or a Brazilian too

Janelle525 · 08-18-2022, 07:40 AM

The only one I've tasted so far is the goldfinger and it is amazing. I've had Manzano from the store and really loved them but they are harder to grow. Grand Nain can be really good too.

AaronTT · 08-18-2022, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bananagardendreamboy

Do you use burrow Orinoco bananas as a plantain or let them ripen like a dessert banana? I’d probably like to get a goldfinger or a Brazilian too

I heard from a reliable source that these type bananas are soup/stew bananas in the Caribbean. Cooked they are extremely dry and hard, so it makes sense that they would keep their shape in soups, and not turn to mush.
As a plantain they are horrible. They don't come even close to real plantains. As a desert banana, again horrible, at least in my opinion.

PR-Giants · 08-18-2022, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronTT

I heard from a reliable source that these type bananas are soup/stew bananas in the Caribbean. Cooked they are extremely dry and hard, so it makes sense that they would keep their shape in soups, and not turn to mush.
As a plantain they are horrible. They don't come even close to real plantains. As a desert banana, again horrible, at least in my opinion.

The production of Orinoco ended in the 1950's because of Panama Disease and they were replaced by the Cavendish cooking banana which is harvested a bit earlier than the Cavendish dessert banana.

In my opinion the Orinoco are just as bad as the Blue Java Ice Cream, but 150 years ago these bananas along with the Gros Michel were grown because they had thick skin and were less prone to bruising during shipping than the better tasting bananas.

beam2050 · 08-18-2022, 06:46 PM

me i like orinoco. especially when they are green. i just tasted a banana that tasted of banana/raspberry, and OMG. 3 inches long, fat.

it wasn't mine, but i have them.

PR-Giants · 08-18-2022, 06:55 PM

The Gros Michel has a cult like following now but it's easy to go back and read the records from over 100 years ago to see that Hawaii did not want to switch from exporting the Cavendish to the inferior Gros Michel but finally relented just to stay competitive with other exporters because the shipping and packaging costs were lower for the Gros Michel.

In Hawaii it started with the Cavendish, switched to the Gros Michel and then went back to the Cavendish.

Bananagardendreamboy · 08-18-2022, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PR-Giants

The production of Orinoco ended in the 1950's because of Panama Disease and they were replaced by the Cavendish cooking banana which is harvested a bit earlier than the Cavendish dessert banana.

In my opinion the Orinoco are just as bad as the Blue Java Ice Cream, but 150 years ago these bananas along with the Gros Michel were grown because they had thick skin and were less prone to bruising during shipping than the better tasting bananas.

That makes sense. This makes me want to replace all my orinocos because they really don’t ripen up to taste very good to me. I may just sell the bananas to my local Asian market for other fruits

PR-Giants · 08-18-2022, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beam2050

me i like orinoco. especially when they are green. i just tasted a banana that tasted of banana/raspberry, and OMG. 3 inches long, fat.

it wasn't mine, but i have them.

People will get accustom to what they can grow and can learn to like it.

Another example with Hawaii.

Hawaiians love to eat rats and would bring them on their long voyages so they could release them on many of the uninhabited Pacific Islands so other travelers had a source of meat.

AaronTT · 08-18-2022, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PR-Giants

The production of Orinoco ended in the 1950's because of Panama Disease and they were replaced by the Cavendish cooking banana which is harvested a bit earlier than the Cavendish dessert banana.

In my opinion the Orinoco are just as bad as the Blue Java Ice Cream, but 150 years ago these bananas along with the Gros Michel were grown because they had thick skin and were less prone to bruising during shipping than the better tasting bananas.

I did'nt know they had been grown commercially. It surprises me because they are not that great of a producer.

PR-Giants · 08-18-2022, 07:59 PM

Did anyone notice the deflation on the price of bananas?

In 1885 they were $0.98 per bunch.

In 1924 they were $0.95 per bunch.

beam2050 · 08-18-2022, 07:59 PM

funny story about a rat.

went to a friends place on the gulf for week, just got back. went fishing for cobia and while we were going out, a rat came running out along the gunnels.

i didnt eat him, i knocked him out of the boat for gators. sorry, no lie to it.

when i was a kid i read magazines like field and stream, and outdoor life which had many articles of fishing in florida. great stuff when your 45 miles from the canadian border in the misourri breaks/ badlands. born a white man on an indian reservation at a time and place nobody gave **** about what color somebody was.

i bought a place in jacksonville fl. in 1980 with over 100 orinocos growing in low corner with a small stream running by. hog heaven.

edit. oh wow i like how they blanked out the word ****.

PR-Giants · 08-18-2022, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronTT

I did'nt know they had been grown commercially. It surprises me because they are not that great of a producer.

That's a 5 gallon bucket in the photo.

PR-Giants · 08-18-2022, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beam2050

.

hog heaven.

There's an Orinoco named Mafafo de Porko, was that the one you were growing?

The fruit had red skin.

AaronTT · 08-18-2022, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PR-Giants

That's a 5 gallon bucket in the photo.

That is the largest Orinoco bunch I have seen; great job. I can only get 5 hands, and most of the time its more like 3 or 4. In fairness, I dont fertilize it, not even with compost/worm tea.

momoese · 08-18-2022, 08:45 PM

Pisang Klotek is the best tasting I've grown.

beam2050 · 08-18-2022, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PR-Giants

There's an Orinoco named Mafafo de Porko, was that the one you were growing?

The fruit had red skin.

no green, but when you pealed them before the skin turned yellow the fruit was orange and had a fantastic taste. long time ago.....better than, bleck, cavendish.

75north · 08-18-2022, 10:03 PM

Orinoco types are great in that you can pretty much set them and forget them. You see them growing "wild" and fruiting like crazy all over Central and even North Florida where it gets well below freezing every year. From a taste perspective, though, there isn't much to recommend them. They are an all-rounder that isn't good in any single way.

The best tasting fruits that I have grown myself are Patupi and SH3640, with Pisang Ceylon and Gros Michel coming in just behind.

08-17-2022, 05:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bananagardendreamboy Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 82 BananaBucks : 14,967 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 12 Times Was Thanked 54 Times in 37 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	What are the best tasting banana varieties to you? Is blue Java a bit overrated in the taste department?

08-17-2022, 06:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
sddarkman619 Banana Man Find me on the map! Name: Larry Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 1,148 BananaBucks : 189,104 Feedback: 14 / 100% Said "Thanks" 340 Times Was Thanked 1,219 Times in 535 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: What are the best tasting banana varieties to you? You either love them, or you don't. I don't really care for them but my wife loves them. __________________ Ca Licensed Nursery - Snail/Disease Free and Inspected: Bountiful Garden Nursery - A1469.001 Banana Plants for Sale https://www.bananatreesforsale.com Sign up to the Newsletter for Updates: Sign Up Here

08-17-2022, 06:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
sddarkman619 Banana Man Find me on the map! Name: Larry Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 1,148 BananaBucks : 189,104 Feedback: 14 / 100% Said "Thanks" 340 Times Was Thanked 1,219 Times in 535 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: What are the best tasting banana varieties to you? I like goldfingers, brazillians, iholenas, plantains(cooked/fried) __________________ Ca Licensed Nursery - Snail/Disease Free and Inspected: Bountiful Garden Nursery - A1469.001 Banana Plants for Sale https://www.bananatreesforsale.com Sign up to the Newsletter for Updates: Sign Up Here

08-18-2022, 07:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
Janelle525 Location: Bradenton, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10a Join Date: Oct 2019 Posts: 263 BananaBucks : 12,257 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 381 Times Was Thanked 325 Times in 130 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 65 Times	Re: What are the best tasting banana varieties to you? The only one I've tasted so far is the goldfinger and it is amazing. I've had Manzano from the store and really loved them but they are harder to grow. Grand Nain can be really good too. __________________ Super Dwarf Cavendish, Tall Namwah, Goldfinger, Praying Hands, Raja Pisang, Manzano.

08-18-2022, 06:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
beam2050 banana cereal killer Location: middleburg fl. Find me on the map! Zone: 9b-8a Name: walkinbeam Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 2,423 BananaBucks : 806 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 10,695 Times Was Thanked 3,350 Times in 1,543 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 816 Times	Re: What are the best tasting banana varieties to you? me i like orinoco. especially when they are green. i just tasted a banana that tasted of banana/raspberry, and OMG. 3 inches long, fat. it wasn't mine, but i have them. __________________ ................................................... npk of wood ash 0/1/3 to 0/3/7 npk of banana leaf ash 1.75/0.75/0.5

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08-18-2022, 06:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
PR-Giants Commercial Grower Location: Florida & Greater Antilles Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,544 BananaBucks : 3,747 Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,900 Times Was Thanked 12,463 Times in 3,620 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3,204 Times	Re: What are the best tasting banana varieties to you? The Gros Michel has a cult like following now but it's easy to go back and read the records from over 100 years ago to see that Hawaii did not want to switch from exporting the Cavendish to the inferior Gros Michel but finally relented just to stay competitive with other exporters because the shipping and packaging costs were lower for the Gros Michel. In Hawaii it started with the Cavendish, switched to the Gros Michel and then went back to the Cavendish. __________________ PR-Giants Photo Gallery 15,000+ Varieties

08-18-2022, 07:59 PM	#13 (permalink)
PR-Giants Commercial Grower Location: Florida & Greater Antilles Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,544 BananaBucks : 3,747 Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,900 Times Was Thanked 12,463 Times in 3,620 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3,204 Times	Re: What are the best tasting banana varieties to you? Did anyone notice the deflation on the price of bananas? In 1885 they were $0.98 per bunch. In 1924 they were $0.95 per bunch. __________________ PR-Giants Photo Gallery 15,000+ Varieties

08-18-2022, 07:59 PM	#14 (permalink)
beam2050 banana cereal killer Location: middleburg fl. Find me on the map! Zone: 9b-8a Name: walkinbeam Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 2,423 BananaBucks : 806 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 10,695 Times Was Thanked 3,350 Times in 1,543 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 816 Times	Re: What are the best tasting banana varieties to you? funny story about a rat. went to a friends place on the gulf for week, just got back. went fishing for cobia and while we were going out, a rat came running out along the gunnels. i didnt eat him, i knocked him out of the boat for gators. sorry, no lie to it. when i was a kid i read magazines like field and stream, and outdoor life which had many articles of fishing in florida. great stuff when your 45 miles from the canadian border in the misourri breaks/ badlands. born a white man on an indian reservation at a time and place nobody gave ** about what color somebody was. i bought a place in jacksonville fl. in 1980 with over 100 orinocos growing in low corner with a small stream running by. hog heaven. edit. oh wow i like how they blanked out the word *. __________________ ................................................... npk of wood ash 0/1/3 to 0/3/7 npk of banana leaf ash 1.75/0.75/0.5 Last edited by beam2050 : 08-18-2022 at 08:08 PM.*

08-18-2022, 08:45 PM	#18 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,589 BananaBucks : 12,998 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,747 Times Was Thanked 10,887 Times in 3,310 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 728 Times	Re: What are the best tasting banana varieties to you? Pisang Klotek is the best tasting I've grown.

08-18-2022, 10:03 PM	#20 (permalink)
75north Location: Winter Park, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 187 BananaBucks : 13,317 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 204 Times Was Thanked 278 Times in 100 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: What are the best tasting banana varieties to you? Orinoco types are great in that you can pretty much set them and forget them. You see them growing "wild" and fruiting like crazy all over Central and even North Florida where it gets well below freezing every year. From a taste perspective, though, there isn't much to recommend them. They are an all-rounder that isn't good in any single way. The best tasting fruits that I have grown myself are Patupi and SH3640, with Pisang Ceylon and Gros Michel coming in just behind.

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