Tog Tan

Story time folks!

Pisang Raja Udang aka the Cuban Red is not a common 'naner in Malaysia though we have tons of 'naners growing just about everywhere.

The Malays love growing 'naners as it is in their culture since the ancient times and no self respecting Malay in any kampong (village) will be without a couple of them. But....they don't grow or eat the Pisang Raja Udang....why?

Long, long ago before the time of the Malay Sultanate, there were frequent civil wars amongst the rulers of the various districts. In one of these battles, a Malay Prince was very badly wounded. He managed to escape from his enemies and ran into the jungle. However, his wounds got the better of him and he had to rest under a banana plant. Unable to take the pain and the loss of blood, he fainted.

When the Prince came to, he was surprised to find his wounds being treated by a pretty young lady. Thanking her for tending to him, he was able to go back to his palace.

There he was told that the young lady is actually the spirit of the banana plant. He then went back to that plant and found it bearing fruits which were maroon colored as though stained by his blood.

He was so grateful to the plant and the spirit that he decreed to all his subjects that they are never to eat the fruits of the this plant or are allowed to chop the plant down.

This belief/superstition has prevailed to this very day that the Malays do not eat the fruits of the Pisang Raja Udang.

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

Dalmatiansoap

And it is another nice story.

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Chironex

So what did the Malay Prince do in the forest to make bananas yellow? Perhaps this explains how they got their name? Isn't a Raja another name for 'prince'? Hence Pisang Raja........

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Scot

Bananaman88

Thanks, Tog. Keep 'em coming!

Tog Tan

Oi, all the 'naners here are yellow! Raja actually translates to King. The name of this 'naner goes like this;

Pisang = Banana
Raja = King
Udang = Prawn

The fruit looks like a huge cooked prawn( which is red when cooked). Name has nothing to do with the folklore. Sorry for the disappointment

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

Bob

Tog, another great story, thanks. I love this stuff to no end. I have a "Burmese blue" , do you know anything about them that we in other parts of the world don't. According to all the sellers here some tribes eat them and others swear they're poisonous. After hearing your Malaysian stories I'd have to guess that this cultivar has some similar tale behind it.

Scot, good one. Don't even try to tell us why they turn brown.

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camillenoir

I really thought that village folks refrain from growing red bananas because they don't want to end up having Orang Minyak in their vicinity.

Tog Tan

Wow! You know about the Orang Minyak? Where are you from? Not my area, I suppose...

Coming to the Orang Minyak, they were the original nasties in the kampong coming into the houses at night to steal things. The black grease which they smear on their naked body helps them from being caught cos they are so darn slippery!

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

austinl01

Tog, you're awesome. I enjoy learning about Malaysia and its culture. You're a great asset to the board. Keep those posts coming!!

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Austin
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alpha010

If my family didn't own 13 castles in Scotland, I would have absolutely no folklore stories at all either by family or culture...only war stories from the concrete jungle. Every time I log in I can't wait to see what new story or choice reading Tog has for us all....

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camillenoir

I'm from Malacca actually.

Some stories from back in the old days told about the Orang Minyak meditating under banana trees, favoring Pisang Raja Udang for its supposedly mystical properties.

Some note: Supposedly the 'magic' practiced by those Orang Minyak requires them to rape 40 virgins to completely master, triggering the fear of many many village folks.

Accuche

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