Check out this list of the best banana varieties to learn more about their taste, origin, and nutritional value.
Here is the list of the best banana varieties across the world; you can find more details about this popular fruit in this post.
Botanical Name: Musa acuminata
USDA Zone: 4
18 Best Banana Varieties
Bananas are classified into two main groups: Dessert and Plantains.
Dessert Bananas
1. Nanjangud Banana
This banana variety is the most significant agricultural produce in India. It is cultivated in the Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts of Karnataka.
The fruit is renowned for its exceptional flavor, enticing aroma, and slightly tangy taste, which is attributed to the distinctive cultivation techniques employed and the presence of black clay alluvial saline soil surrounding Nanjangud.
2. Goldfinger Bananas
Originating from Honduras, the Goldfinger banana variety exhibits remarkable traits such as cold tolerance and resistance to wind and diseases. The fruit boasts a delightful sweetness reminiscent of apples and possesses the unique quality of not browning upon being cut.
The Goldfinger variety is the result of a successful crossbreeding between the Cavendish and Lady Finger banana varieties.
3. Blue Java Banana
Renowned as “Ice cream bananas,” Blue Java bananas are highly regarded for their delectable vanilla ice-cream-like flavor. These banana varieties have a distinctive silver-blue skin that transforms into a pale yellow hue when fully ripe. Their flesh is not only aromatic but also irresistibly soft and sweet. Whether incorporated into smoothies or savored raw, these bananas offer a unique and delightful taste experience.
4. Cavendish Bananas
The most widely available variety of bananas in supermarkets across the United States is the common banana. They can be found in various stages of ripeness, ranging from young, unripe green to fully ripe with a smooth yellow color or even darker yellow with brown spots.
These versatile banana varieties are perfect for adding to a variety of dishes, including smoothies, pancakes, and banana bread.
5. Gros Michel Banana
Similar in taste and size to the Cavendish variety, the Gros Michel banana is not as readily accessible as other banana varieties. Popular for their delightful sweetness, strong aroma, and creamier texture, Gros Michel bananas are perfect for creating delectable banana pies and other culinary delights!
6. Manzano Banana
Also popular as “apple bananas,” these banana varieties are characterized by their stout and plump appearance, featuring a thick and firm peel that provides excellent protection. Inside, the fruit delights with its light and creamy flesh. When young, apple bananas exhibit a tangy and sweet taste with a subtle apple-like hint.
As they ripen, they develop a tart apple aroma and showcase a tropical flavor profile accentuated by notes of strawberry and pineapple.
7. Lady Finger Banana
Lady Finger bananas are petite, cigar-shaped fruits measuring around 4-5 inches in length. These delightful bananas boast a bright yellow, thin peel that develops dark flecks when fully ripe. Inside, the flesh is wonderfully creamy and offers a taste that surpasses that of other common banana varieties.
8. Red Bananas
Red bananas, distinguished by their red-purple skin, offer a delightful surprise with their sweet flesh, tinged with shades of pink and orange. While some red bananas are smaller and plumper compared to the Cavendish variety, when fully ripe, their flesh ranges from creamy to light pink in color.
The flavor profiles of red bananas can vary, with some showcasing a subtle raspberry taste while others possess a more earthy essence.
9. Praying Hands Banana
The Praying Hands bananas exhibit a distinctive feature where two adjoining “hands” grow fused together, earning them their intriguing name. In terms of sweetness, they are comparatively milder than other banana types, but what sets them apart is their exceptional vanilla flavor.
Cooking or Plantain Bananas
These bananas have a neutral flavor profile. Due to their starchy texture and low sugar content, they are commonly boiled, fried, or roasted. When ripe, they can also be eaten raw.
10. Bluggoe Banana
This banana variety produces large and straight fruits. The Bluggoe bananas possess a starchy texture and show resistance to Panama disease. However, it is primarily utilized for cooking purposes rather than being consumed raw in regions such as Burma, Thailand, southern India, and East Africa.
11. Fehi Banana
The Fehi banana displays a vibrant orange to red skin, with yellow or orange flesh. If you boil or bake it, the fruit will provide superior nutritional value and a delectable taste.
However, this particular variety is described as having an “unpleasantly astringent” taste when consumed raw, primarily due to its higher starch content and lower sugar levels compared to other banana varieties.
12. Orinoco Banana
The Orinoco banana is a robust variety that thrives in cold climates and windy conditions. It requires support to hold its large clusters of fruit. As they mature, these bananas develop a silky and tender texture while maintaining a firm and fibrous peel.
Although they are relatively starchy, they offer a delightful sweetness and a smooth texture when consumed.
13. Pisang Raja Banana
Also known as the Musa Belle banana, it is a sought-after variety in Indonesia. It boasts a slightly grainy texture and a sweet flavor with a thick peel. This fruit is widely used to make banana pancakes, a popular snack in Indonesia.
14. Macho Plantain Banana
The Macho Plantain commonly grows in Florida and holds the distinction of being the most popularly cultivated variety in the United States. It holds a delightful deep sweet-and-sour taste, which makes it an ideal candidate for frying, sautéing in butter, or grilling.
15. Barangan Bananas
The Barangan Banana offers a mildly sweet taste, featuring a yellow-colored peel adorned with black dots. Its flesh, which is seedless and pure white, has gained popularity as a delectable dessert in numerous regions across the tropics.
16. Dwarf Jamaican Banana
Also known as the Cuban red banana, it undergoes a color transformation to a sunset yellow when it reaches ripeness. It is smaller in size than the Cavendish variety and possesses a creamy to pink flesh with a delightful raspberry flavor.
You can add this versatile variety to salads or enjoy it when the fruit is ripe.
17. Lady’s Finger Bananas
Lady’s Finger bananas are famous for their smaller size and sweeter taste than the long and mild Cavendish variety. These bananas are perfect for creating healthy snacks for children.
Additionally, their petite nature makes them a popular choice for adding to salads.
18. Saba Banana
Originating in the Philippines, the Saba banana is a triploid hybrid cultivar with immense culinary value. This variety is popular in cooking and is also enjoyed raw. It has earned fame in Philippine cuisine, where it stands as one of the essential banana varieties in the region.