servatusprime

TEXTURE- It’s a little hard to describe. While eating, the fruit feels smooth but the chew is somewhat brittle, so you get these smooth “chunks” on the initial bite. It blends to be a little creamy as you continue to chew. The banana feels more dense with no fluff, but not as dense as a namwah. The slightly brittle nature decreases as the fruit continue to ripen. This characteristic is a little odd, but it’s probably one of those things most people wouldn’t take the time to notice.

FIRMNESS – More firm than a grocery store Cavendish.

SWEETNESS- Sweet and mellows a bit as it gets riper. I wouldn't eat more than 2-3 at a time when it is actually ripe. The window when it’s sweeter isn't long.

TARTNESS- When fully yellow it can be a bit tart, but as it gets some brown spots the acidity lessens and you can eat it when its “just right”. This seems to be a variety where you've got to time the stage of ripeness to consume fresh out of hand. Nowhere near as time sensitive as pisang raja, but you’ll need to make some mental notes for the next harvest.

RIPENESS- Wait till its fully yellow, otherwise is can be a bit vegetal. I would wait for some brown spots. But you also don’t want to go too far either because it starts reminding me of a potato.

FLAVOR- When timed right, there is a lot of intense flavor in this little banana. When yellow you there is a strong presence of apple, cherry and lime with a hint of typical banana flavor. As it continues to ripen the tart and bright flavors diminish and you experience more of a classic banana flavor with coconut. This is a banana that you have to time the ripeness on to eat it out of hand. Before ripeness there is a vegetal taste and while perfectly ripe you don’t notice it (maybe a hint) because of the overpowering flavors, but as it ripens the fruity flavors diminish, the potato flavor becomes present and increases somewhat in intensity. It’s a little weird eating a mix of tropical fruity flavor and potato. My wife didn't care for it. So far it’s her least favorite out of the yard.

No attempt at cooking green (I just don’t like nanners that way). I like eating these ripe. I did try grilling them like I do with plantains. There were good that way, but I rather eat a plantain from the grocery.

OTHER: The fingers tend to split, so pay attention. It peels fairly easily so that’s nice. Not sure why it’s called “High Noon”. (Maybe it has something to do with eating it at the right time)

GROWING IT: It is a beautiful plant that grows fast and is hardy in my yard. It holds it leaves better than the other verities I grow. Its leaves also seem to be “tougher” as they are a little harder to cut off. I do notice the beginnings of sigtoka now and then, but I just chop off those leaves. Getting well rooted pups has been a little more challenging on this one compared to other varieties. It seems that I have to wait until the pups are a bit bigger. Also I didn't need to support the bunch which is a plus.




OVERALL RATING: 7 I’m not completely satisfied in terms of fruit. I’ll let it grow for a while longer and see if the fruit characteristics improve with the next bunches. My wife wasn't crazy about it, and I can’t eat these all by myself especially with a smaller "ripe window". It is a beautiful plant that grows well so that is helping its score.

SUGGESTED USE: Eat it out of hand if you can get the timing right. I imagine if you like a more savory cooking banana you might enjoy this one. I guess I would label it a dual purpose banana with an emphasis on cooking. But I am not as much of a fan of savory bananas. Give me the sweet ones!!

JCA433

I have read such positive reviews of SH 3640 over the past two years so this taste report is a bit of a shock. I planted SH 3640 this spring and it will be a long time before harvest. Hopefully the next bunch will have better flavor.

servatusprime

You and me both!! I searched and begged for this plant with the hope of an awesome but not widely grown variety. I will say that for a little while there was a great flavor explosion. I imagine some might say a little too intense and as it continued to ripen I thought it would improve, but I was mistaken. When the flavors were intense,that was the time to eat it as the vegetal/potato flavors were most overpowered.

I would also like to point out, that although you can taste the vegetal/potato flavors, its not so strong that you want to get out butter and sour cream. Keep in mind that when anyone is describing a taste experience be it wine, coffee or in this case bananas, you are trying to describe every note of flavor that rolls across the palate. Additionally everyone is going to have a slightly different experience which complicates maters. For this banana bunch, the vegetal/potato flavor was much more off putting to my wife. Not too surprising, since she has a bigger sweet tooth than I do.

This variety is by no means awful, but I did have higher expectations. We shall see what the next bunch brings. I hope it works out really well for you.

Julian

How would you compare it to the Goldfinger that you have?

Julian

Seems like Australia was really progressive in trying different varieties out. Besides Cavs, Pomes and Namwa are sold commercially. FHIA 18 and 3640 did not make the cut, but Australia did commercialize Goldfinger. Goldfinger seems to be a fading variety. You would think with Pome being the second most bought variety in Australia that the FHIA versions could have been accepted?

PR-Giants

Ninos are common in Florida.

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servatusprime

Overall I like Goldfinger more. Here's is a link to my taste report: Goldfinger Taste Report

servatusprime

I think Going Bananas has it. I haven't seen it around here at my local nurseries or know of someone growing it. If I replace another mat, I'll keep that variety in mind. Thanks.

BrianOC714

Thanks for the taste report.

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Blue Java
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Gros Michel
Pisang Klotek
Rajapuri
SH-3640
Veinte Cohol

robguz24

I had some a couple years ago at a banana festival that were labeled as "likely" SH-3640 and I thought it was one of the best I've had. However, now growing the plant and having been told by Coconut Chris that it was Nang Phaya, I realize I probably have never tried SH-3640 after all. Would still love to grow it if I could find it.

It's interesting that people seem to be reacting to this review that it isn't all that good after all. To me, your objective description of the flavors make it sound very good and interesting, and makes me want to grow it even more. Any banana that you want to eat 2-3 at a time is good as far as I'm concerned. There are many types I've had that I rarely want more than 1 of, including several types I grow.

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servatusprime

I think most people expected a review where I am exploding with unbridled excitement for the SH3640 based on what other people's comments have been in the past. Inadvertently I think my review might be discouraging to some. It is an interesting and good variety. I do think its more for the enthusiast rather than a mainstream casual gardener. (or for someone that doesn't think about using produce at its peak for the intended method of consumption)

In regard to 2-3 at a time, I'm just a hungry guy.

Nicolas Naranja

I tried one this week that was ripe on the bunch. Not impressed at all. It is the fruit version of Heidi Montag, beautiful without any substance

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NANAMAN

I don't think what you have pictured is SH-3640 . Those bananas look to be about 5-6 inches long. That picture also has persistent male flowers, which the SH-3640 does not have. The shape, length, and description of taste are all wrong for the 3640.

Look in my photo gallery:Bananas and Fruit 2010 pg. 3 I'm still growing this mat because it is an excellent banana.

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Nicolas Naranja

Back left with the spots...not terrible
Middle all the way left...awful

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servatusprime

Here's a current picture for you of a ripening bunch



I'm not an expert yet but I think the other photo shows some transitional flowers. The current photo doesn't show persistent male flowers. In regard to finger length, it was the first bunch from the mat and did most of its ripening through the dry season. I would think that this might have something to do with the length. The next bunch should have bigger fingers.

The plant should be legit. I got it from a respected forum member from the other coast of Florida. However if it is a mixup please let me know what it could be.

I'm not sure what to say about the taste. For my reports I try to describe every flavor no matter how minute. I try to approach it like a coffee or wine review. Two people could be having the same actual eating experience, yet describe it differently. If anything my descriptions overemphasize the notes of flavor, but this is normal for other taste reviews like the aforementioned coffee and wine.

venturabananas

I don't know what the defining characteristics for SH-3640 are, so I can't weigh in on what those pictured in this thread are, but I would note that fruit shape, length, and, to some extent, flavor are strongly affected by climate and growing practices.

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PR-Giants

There's a guide online that you can download.

Identification and characterization guide for FHIA banana and plantain hybrids

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PR-Giants

I agree.

A bad thing about these "Taste Reports" are when/if they're done on a misidentified cultivar or a poorly developed bunch.

No data is better than bad data.

A grower should not make a decision based on the org, but instead use it as a direction on what to research.

A large and extensive study of 15 synthetic hybrids was recently done in Puerto Rico.

Best Dessert Banana - SH-3640

Best Cooking Banana - FHIA-23


FWIW, out of the synthetic hybrids I've tasted, the SH-3640 was the best dessert banana and there has not been a close second.

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Nicolas Naranja

If the definition of best is tasteless, the SH-3640 would win. I had full sized well developed fruit. It is a shame because the fruit is beautiful and the texture is great.

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robguz24

Very true. Even in my own yard, I will get DBs that flower totally shaded that give 3" bananas and the ones in full sun with roots going into my watered lawn area can be 8" with quite a bit of variation in shape too.

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