Red bananas are also grown and marketed worldwide and can be found in local grocers throughout Southeast Asia, Australia, Africa, the South Pacific, New Zealand, South America, Central America, Canada, and the United States.
It is known in English as Red dacca (Australia), Red banana, 'Red' banana (USA), Claret banana, Cavendish banana "Cuban Red", Jamaican red banana, and Red Cavendish banana.
The two main types of bananas grown in Australia are Cavendish and Lady Finger, accounting for 95% and 4% of Australia's banana production, respectively.
Red Bananas from Kerala, India where it is popularly called Chenkathali. This variety of banana has a reddish-purple skin and are smaller and plumper than the common (Cavendish) banana.
Red bananas are bestowed with powerful antioxidants than yellow ones. The antioxidants prevent cellular damage caused by free radicals and lower the risk of chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Red bananas taste sweeter than yellow ones, because they contain more sugar and calories than yellow bananas. A registered dietician referenced in the Medical Daily report says that a red banana will have about 30 more calories and eight more grams of sugar than a yellow one of the same size.
In Australia, Cavendish and Lady Fingers are the two most popular varieties. Banana plants can grow up to nine metres high.
There are also native Australian species of bananas - Musa banksii and Musa jackeyi. Further research is underway to establish and identify the varieties of seeded and ornamental bananas that are currently naturalising and posing biosecurity risks in NSW.
Marsdenia australis, commonly known as the bush banana, silky pear or green vine is an Australian native plant. It is found in Central Australia and throughout Western Australia. It is a bush tucker food used by Indigenous Australians.
You'd use them most of the same ways: eating out of hand, sliced over cereal, in a smoothie. But since they're so much more expensive per pound than yellow bananas, I don't know if their flavor difference is actually worth that. Some people prefer baking with red bananas than yellow ones.
Red bananas are rich in nutrients, antioxidants and fibre. They are good for your heart, digestive system and skin. You can include them in your diet daily. They can be safely consumed by babies, pregnant women and those with weak digestion.
Nigrospora is a fungal disease that causes the centre of the banana to turn dark red. Nigrospora can infect the fruit in tropical climates where bananas are grown. Mokillo, moko, and blood disease bacterium are bacterial diseases that can also cause red discoloration in bananas.
Size: 2 gal. Once only allowed to be grown and eaten by Hawaiian nobility Ae Ae is by far one of the rarest bananas in the world.
Seasons/Availability
Red bananas are available year-round.
The Big Banana: Coffs Harbour, NSW
A pit stop at this iconic piece of fruit has been a must-do for Pacific Highway travellers ever since the 13-metre-long 'nana came to be in the '60s. It's modelled on the shapeliest banana that engineer Alan Chapman could find as he mocked up the plans.
Where it's Grown: Australian Cavendish Bananas are grown in tropical and sub tropical regions. The tropical banana growing regions of Norethern Queensland, mainly around Tully and Innisfail, produce more than 90% of Australia's Bananas.
Aussie first farming. We believe Aussie farmers grow some of the best fruit and veg in the world. That's why Coles has an Australian First Sourcing Policy. In fact, all our bananas, apples, tomatoes, carrots and many more fruit and veg are 100% Aussie, 100% of the time.
Because bananas are highly labor-intensive, labour cost significantly impacts Australia's global competiveness.
The ideal color is mostly yellow with a small amount of green at both ends. You may want to select bananas based on your usage timeframe and how you'll want to eat or use them. Choose some already ripe (yellow with brown spots) for immediate use. Pick bananas that are still slightly but not overly green to use later.
A shop in Tokyo is selling bananas that come in their very own case and cost almost $6 for one . The limited edition banana is called Gokusen and are apparently a far superior banana thanks to the way they're grown high above sea level.
Red bananas are eaten in the same way as yellow bananas, by peeling the fruit before eating. They are frequently eaten raw, whole or chopped, and added to desserts and fruit salads, but can also be baked, fried, and toasted.
Red bananas are rich in calcium and potassium, so they may help improve bone health. The presence of antioxidants and vitamins in red bananas may help in blood purification. Red bananas, a good source of vitamins such as Vitamin B6, may help boost metabolism as well as immunity.
Advantageous for Kidneys
The potassium level in red bananas helps reduce and control kidney stones. Consuming these bananas regularly can also prevent cancer and other heart diseases.