onebigholiday

Alright, sorry for the post craze lately! I'm way late to the party but I'm so excited to have found this place (and all of you). I've been soaking up the wealth of information you all have provided over the years and (as I'm sure many of you also are) I've become obsessed with bananas!

For the help part:
Currently on the hunt to find and grow the "perfect" banana (specifically for fruit), and I was hoping to pick all of your brains for your experience on what you think might match what I'm looking for. I've pored over the many taste profiles and it's tough to tell.

Context:
I'm in Southern California (10a), I'm growing several different varieties now (Blue Java, Dwarf Cavendish, Blood Banana, Double Cavendish, Manzano, and another unnamed variety I've yet to figure out).

Attempting to do a reverse taste description (Developing a banana taste description guide):

• TEXTURE - Dense, creamy, velvety, but not mushy, spongy, or airy

• FIRMNESS - 'Snappy' where you can cleanly make a break. Middle ground between firm and soft but not mush in your hand

• SWEETNESS - Yes please!

• TARTNESS - Some (Like that of a slightly green, mostly yellow store bought Grand Nain / Cavendish)

• FLAVOR - Vanilla, some tartness, open to different profiles

• OVERALL RATING - 10/10 (subjective, I know, but in your opinion)

• DESIRED USE - Dessert, out of hand, smoothies etc.

• OTHER NOTES - Just as a base for everyone, as far as store bought bananas go, I love them when they're just a tad green and mostly yellow. Once they have spots I throw them in the compost. If any variegated types match the profile, that would be awesome, but not necessary

So far, it seems like a Sucrier might match what I'm looking for, but it seems as though people have said that it's too sweet, so maybe a step down? I'm open to anything.

Looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts!

P.S. Would be cool to write a program to collate all of the taste reports for a "Banana Chooser" or something.

Best day

Not a lot of response for this question so I can give you my 2 cents. I grow 10-15 different varieties on Long Beach, CA. I would highly recommend:

Mysore - vigorous grower, cold hardy, huge racks of delicious bananas with a slight berry taste

Dwarf Brazilian and Goldfinger - both have a delicious banana taste with some subacid tang to them. Goldfinger might taste a little better than Dwarf Brazilian.

Dwarf Namwa - Very sweet, creamy and dense fruit. No subacid tang to it like I like but it tastes so different then most bananas that I say you need to try it.

I have yet to try Dwarf Red, Gros Michel or Raja Puri.

California Gold is a good dual purpose banana. It is an excellent plantain and pretty good eaten fresh.

Bill

jesse99

Contrary to some opinions, I've found that Sucrier's sweetness level isn't as excessive as initially perceived, making it a more appealing choice for my taste preferences.
wordle unlimited

onebigholiday

Thank you Jesse and Best day!

cincinnana

Forum member Robguz24 did many first hand reports of the bananas he had grown and tasted.
Rob did taste reports of popular and obtainable plants.

There are many posts/ taste tests like this one and here is one of them......you just have to drill down for them.
Lakatan taste report

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onebigholiday

Thank you cincinnana. I've been scouring them almost daily for the past few weeks (and super glad they exist). I'll check out those specific members!