Going Bananas For Bananas

By Dinah Jackson

Expert Author Dinah Jackson

Bananas, along with apples, are probably the world's most underappreciated fruits. Somewhat awkwardly skirting the unsavory political facts of banana production that continue to this day (the term banana republic is no joke) let's the look at the wondrous gem of the tropics. First of all to really appreciate a banana you must forget that you've been eating them since you were a child and they are about the cheapest fruit in the supermarket. Next, whatever variety you have, when eaten out of hand bananas are without a doubt best when fully ripe, not turning black or mushy, but soft and fragrant (don't let a few dark spots put you off). It is just at the point of fermenting that the banana's complexity takes off. Smell your banana- before you peel it and after. Keep an open mind and pretend you are smelling one for the first time. When you do bite into it, try to place the taste and aroma. Try to compare it- my guess is that you won't find anything to compare it to. A banana is a banana.

When bananas first made their way into the markets of the United States and Europe, they were either revered with passion or reviled with disgust. Either way, though they may seem boring now, people had strong feelings about them. Up until the 60's, in Japan the banana was still considered the king of fruits.

Bananas come in a plethora of verities (including the potato-like plantain), hardly any of which make it to our produce shelves. If you ever see red bananas, buy them- the inside is golden-yellow and delicious. Finger bananas are a tasty dwarf version. Oddly, the middle stem in these bananas is the same size as in larger ones, giving them and interesting snap. Hawaiian bananas are sometimes called apple bananas due to their tartness. Finally, bananas take a very long time to ripen and ferment quickly. And their leaves make great picnic plates. This magnificent and attractive plant deserves our wonder.

This article was written by Dinah Jackson who is a nutritionist in Japan. To find the rarest Japanese Pokemon cards, check out the store that has every kind of Japanese Pokemon promo cards that you can imagine. Also an incredible selection of Japanese Pokemon plush toys, figures, binders, deck boxes, sleeves, and just about anything you can imagine.