While staying in the charming bed and breakfast in Puerto Princesa a couple of months ago I mentioned in an earlier post, I noticed a fruit basket on the table containing something I had never seen before: red bananas! Twenty years in the Philippines and this was truly the first time I laid my eyes on red bananas. I really shrieked with delight.
The genial B&B hostess made it her personal mission to get me to the market to photograph this fruit before leaving the island.
Palawan, 2010
I have since then learned that these are locally called Morado bananas, from the Spanish "purple" and they are a distinctly different variety from other yellow and green bananas. What you see here are Morado chico (small size). I had the good fortune last week of seeing a Morado grande (the largest banana ever!), but the bad fortune of not having my camera on me.
The small red banana is shorter, plumper, creamier and sweeter than the usual Cavendish banana most people are familiar with. Here is the fruit basket I first saw the red bananas in. Do you know these other tropical fruits in this basket?
Today's post plays along with Ruby Tuesday, hosted by Mary. As usual, the link takes you to links of other people playing with RED today.
33 comments:
wow. I've never seen red bananas. That would be a treat to taste sometime. Did I see a papaya and a lime in your fruit basket?
Gosh! Never knew there was such a thing. Isn't it good to know that even in this age of globalisation and 'strawberries all year round', some things remain 'exclusive'? Is the flesh still banana-coloured? Or could it be pink?
@Annie - you are right about the papaya; there are two in the basket. No lime though. ;-) I'll leave it for others to name.
@Jenny - the red banana I tasted was not what I'd call pink, but I read that some do have a pinkish hue.
I've seen those red bananas somewhere before but I don't remember where, or when, and I thought they were plantains. Silly me, it seems I missed a treat.
Are those avocados in the fruit basket? If not, then I have no idea what they are.
K
Red/purple? You're confusing me. But I love bananas so I'd love to try them!
I had to laugh at your comment on VDP, while you were commenting, I was replying to VP, so you might want to have a look!
I would fill my house with these red bananas just to look at them! I'd eat a few, but what a thought to be surrounded by them! Re: the carved bench, I did e-mail the benchmeister :)
P.S. Yellow = mangos, and what else???
Me again again. Oops, Papaya was my 2nd thought. I love them both, so either way, I'll join in.
To all the fruit guessers: you've got all but the green one covered: mango (small yellow), papaya (big yellow), avocado (purple), red banana, of course. I'll post the name of the green one on Wednesday if no one guesses it.
I LOVE seeing the different fruit and vegetables available in markets around the world. Do red bananas taste the same as the yellow?
Now I am curious about the taste of red bananas!
red bananas?! Wow!! This is the first time I see and heard of it! I wonder can we make a banana cake out of it?
From your description, red bananas sound delicious! They certainly look beautiful too. Nice shots!
This is just overwhelming. I looked at all the photos, read the commentary and went absolutely bananas! ;-)
Thanks for all your comments, Francisca!
Re Annie's Cafe in Cedar Key...it was way too hot to sit out there comfortably!
I never knew! You've taught me something new today!
We have red bananas in my hometown in Cebu. Great photos.
I would love to try one, I'm a big fan of bananas!
I was so excited by the red bananas, that I forgot to tell you how much I appreciate your kind words on my blog today. Thank you.
Weird and cool! I've never seen red bananas either. Hope to, soon, so I can try it out. I like lantundan (the small ones with almost white flesh) the best. How's the taste in comparison?
You asked about Manila Ocean Park. It's been open for almost two years. Since I love exhibits and museums and almost anything to do with science (and history), I love it. But I know some who were totally bored with their visit and didn't think the price of admission (P400, now I think) was worth it.
I have seen, but never eaten red bananas.
Love your fruit basket.
Yes, as a teacher, I tend to ask a lot of questions. I can speak Gou Yu . Can you?(Oppps! I asked again. LOL)
What wonderful fruit. Red bananas are new to me too.
Interesting - would love to taste the red banana. Purple avocado?!
This market would be a great place to peruse and sample each and every one!!
My R T Link
Have a great day.
Nice pictures!
Greetings from Argentina
Elisa
The variety of this fruit is amazing! I have never seen these before either, I guess.
Francisca you made me missed my native country Philippines! Growing up I see many varieties of bananas and one of this is the red banana or Morado. In your second photo, that green banana which will turn yellow when ripe, if I am not mistaken this is called "tundan", our parents force us to eat this banana if we have diarrhea hahaha! Inside the basket I see avocado/guacamole, papaya and the red banana. Thanks for sharing this!! Happy Tuesday and thanks for the visit too!
Something red, yellow & blue
No idea what that green fruit is...curiosity is driving me bananas! haha :D
Wow, they really are different! You've taken some lovely shots of them and the other fruit, looks really appetising, would love to try them :-)
:) Of course - skin of avocado turns dark...I just didn't associate the dark colour with purple! Now I feel a bit silly :D
I have never tasted red bananas, but a food magazine mentioned how good red banana is to use in smoothie! Your B&B landlady did right sending you on a phototrip :-D
Fabulous colors and shots!
So glad everyone likes my red bananas and the fruit basket. Should anyone be waiting with bated breath for me to give the name of the green fruit, it's a guava fruit.
I just tried one, but was not ripe yet. Bad idea. Aweful when not ripe!
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