While most of us are familiar with the common yellow Cavendish bananas that dominate supermarket shelves, the banana family is much more diverse than many realize. In fact, there are over 1,000 banana varieties worldwide! Here are a few fun variations of bananas that might just surprise you with their unique characteristics.
Red Bananas
Red bananas have a striking reddish-purple skin that sets them apart from their yellow counterparts. They have a sweet flavor that hints at raspberry, making them a distinct treat. They are smaller and plumper than the Cavendish bananas, with a creamy flesh that’s rich in beta-carotene and vitamin C.
Lady Finger Bananas
Lady Finger bananas, or “Sugar bananas”, are small, thin varieties known for their exceptionally sweet taste and firm texture. They are much smaller than the typical Cavendish banana, usually only about three to four inches long, making them a perfect, healthy snack for kids or a sweet addition to cereal and fruit salads.
Blue Java Bananas
Imagine a banana that tastes like vanilla ice cream. The Blue Java banana, also known as the “Ice Cream banana”, is just that. These bananas are known for their unusual blue-tinged peels when unripe, which turn a pale yellow when ready to eat.
