Musa 'Orito'
 

As far as I know, guys, 'Orito' is a regional term for these bananas. Gabe has kindly identified them as belonging to the Sucrier group of fruits. This is a 2.5-3 meter tall plant with narrower green leaves and a nearly black pseudostem; the fruits are borne in heavy racemes of about 20 hands of about 15-20 fingers each (on a healthy plant), and weigh in at about 15-20 kg - I've never actually weighed a bunch of Oritos, but I do know how much I can deadlift with one arm, so the large racemes of this fruit that I've harvested and purchased were not more than 20kg.

From what I've been able to glean, 'Orito' is a South American cultivar developed for its small, firm, sweet fruits. They're grown anywhere that will hold the plants - this means that I can always find the fruit in markets no matter whether I'm on the coast or in the Amazon (unlike the GM variants, which are only grown on the coast.) I suspect that Oritos are very similar to Ninos and possibly also Ladyfingers, but nobody has been able to confirm this since I'm the only one eating them.

The common name 'Oritos' and the Brazilian name 'Ouros' both refer to the colour of the skins and flesh. 'Oritos' means 'little golden ones' and 'Ouros' means 'golden ones.'

Plant, at Union Base, Pastaza


Bunches, for sale at the large Free Market, Quito, Pichincha, with Giant Plantains in the background for comparison.


A bunch, on my table in Quito, Pichincha


A hand, on my counter in Loja, Loja, with Rosados and Sedas for comparison.


A finger, compared to other more typical bananas - Seda, Limon, GM, and finally Orito.


Slices, in my fruit salad. The big pink slices are improved Gros Michel, and the smaller gold slices are Orito.

Re: Musa 'Orito'
 

I think this topic's gonna be very popular. ;) Thanks for sharing. Nice pics btw.

Re: Musa 'Orito'
 

Thanks for sharing. I cant wait to see what the pro's think since I'm still a newbie.

Re: Musa 'Orito'
 

The best posts here for me are those that show endemic bananas in their regional environment. Maybe giving me a glimpse of where bananas belong and places I've never been. Thanks.

Re: Musa 'Orito'
 

Hi Lorax,

I think, this is Ouro! My friend Helton from Frutas Raras in Brazil will give me some pups to plant them in my garden in Lucianópolis out.

Best wishes
Joachim

Re: Musa 'Orito'
 

Thanks for sharing the pics, Beth. I'm not sure how the 'Orito' would survive a Houston winter, but I hope I get to find out some day!

Re: Musa 'Orito'
 

Joachim, thanks! I figured that they had to be the same cultivar - last time I was in Rio I got laughed at for calling them Oritos - probably because I'd lapsed into Spanish. Thanks for the confirmation!

Re: Musa 'Orito'
 

On the "list" with them!
:ha::ha::ha:
:woohoonaner:

Re: Musa 'Orito'
 

I just had the pleasure of tasting these delicious bananas! A little store out in the middle of nowhere just happened to have them for some reason. :goteam:

Now, I have property in Hawaii that is screaming out to have these little delights growing on it. ;-)

Where can I buy some pups??

Re: Musa 'Orito'
 

I know some of the Hawaiian members are growing Sucrier and I have seen them growing in Hawaii. Look around on the islands, they are there.

Re: Musa 'Orito'
 

Awesome! thx

I guess I need to figure out how to identify them, because all I ever see on the big island are apple. Are apple also sucrier?

Re: Musa 'Orito'
 

No, Hawaiian Apple is a Pome variety, not Sucrier. I've bought Sucier in the farmers' market in Kona, seen them growing in the Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden (Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden - Bishop Museum), and I'm pretty sure that Rob here on the org (who lives on the Big Island) also grows them. Good luck.

Re: Musa 'Orito'
 

I do grow sucrier and Kluay Khai. Though without tasting them side by side I don't know if there is much difference. The KK is sold all over Hawaii at nurseries via Novelty Greens. I've been seeing the TC plants of these for sale lately, for the first time in a couple years. I'm currently enjoying some oritos here in the Galapagos. Am also eating "seda" and trying to figure out what they are. Sort of cavendish like but a more Gros Michel taste and color. Very tasty!

Re: Musa 'Orito'
 

(Extreme jealousy) Rob! What are you doing down in the Galapagos?!

Re: Musa 'Orito'
 

Hi is it possible to ship orito banana pup to usa florida?