It is one of the sweetest tasting fruits and the flesh has a firm but creamy texture.

The colour of an unripe banana is light or dark green. Once this fruit matures turns to yellow and sometimes presents black spots in the skin.

Season

This fruit is available for harvest at any time during the year

Benefits

There are a number of health benefits associated with eating banana:

This food is cholesterol and sodium free and at the same time, a great source of potassium, fibre, manganese and vitamins B6 and C.

Fighting anaemia and constipation are some of the most known benefits of this fruit, but you might be surprised to know how bananas help curing hangovers quickly, relieving heartburn, avoiding morning sickness and reducing the swelling and irritation of mosquito bites.

Cooking

You will have noticed that bananas are one of those fruits to go brown quickly in your fruit bowl. Good news is that if you are a dessert lover, you will be able to come up with few recipes to use those bananas before they go completely off.

The sweetness of this fruit is perfect for some of the best desserts ever: banana muffins, banana cake, banana fritters,… and our absolute best! Banana bread. Are you keen on trying? Follow this recipe:

Ingredients: one and a half cups of flour, a pinch of salt, 3 or 4 smashed bananas, 1/3 cup of melted butter, 1 sup of sugar, 1 beaten egg, 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence and 1 teaspoon of baking powder.

Instructions: Mix the melted butter and the smashed bananas with the help of a wooden spoon in a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar, beaten egg, vanilla essence, the baking soda and salt and mix it well. You can add the flour now. Pour the mix in a buttered loaf pan and cook for an hour in the oven at 175°C.