These blue bananas are real, and they taste just like vanilla ice cream
Every now and then, we come across a variation of a fruit or a veggie that we’d never heard of before. Purple potatoes, orange cauliflower, blue pumpkins and black apples have all found themselves onto our Instagram feeds at some point in the past – but never before have we seen anything quite so vibrant and unusual as the blue banana.
These baby blue bananas have got to be one of the brightest and most beautiful fruits to exist today. They really do remind us what a diverse and incredible planet we live on. Just when we think we’ve seen it all, blue bananas come around to show us that we clearly haven’t.
Known as java bananas, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll find these blue bananas at your local grocery store. That’s not to say they grow in some far-off land, though – there are java bananas growing in Hawaii and even some parts of Central America. They also grow in southeast Asia and other regions with tropical climates.
These bananas are softer and fluffier than typical bananas, and some people say that they have a flavor of vanilla ice cream. No, seriously – a banana can taste as good as your favorite classic dessert. If you’re trying to eat healthily but miss the sweet stuff, you obviously need to go on a java banana hunt ASAP.
Hilariously, some parts of the internet think that the idea of a blue banana is so surreal that it’s actually just a hoax. People think there’s been a bit of clever photoshopping to convince us all that java bananas exist.
We promise, they really are a thing – you only need to check out YouTube videos like this one, of people tasting blue java bananas themselves, for you to know that they’re out there somewhere. Granted, the bananas are quite clearly yellow on this video, but that’s because they do turn a normal yellow color when they’re ripe.
Java bananas aren’t always called that name either. In Hawaii, they’re simply known as the Hawaiian banana, while in the Philippines, they’re called Krie. “Cenizo” is the name they go by in central America.
Obviously, the ultimate question after learning about a banana that legitimately tastes like ice cream is “can I grow this myself?” The answer is yes – but only if your climate is right for the job. You’ve got the best chance of producing a thriving blue banana plant if you live in zones eight through 10.
It’s wise to start with a potted plant rather than planting from the seed. Amazon and Etsy sell these plants, though they’re pretty rare, and you may need to pay a tad more than you’re used to paying for a fruit or veg plant. Still, if you have the commitment and the plant-motherly love required to see your blue bananas thrive, you’re guaranteed to be the envy of all your friends.
Though they taste too delicious to be true, java bananas are actually very good for you. They have all the benefits of a standard banana, including potassium, which we need for everything from proper muscle contractions to well-functioning nerve signals. Even better, they’re as diverse as a standard banana, too – so you can use them to make pies, pancakes, and, of course, ice cream.
Blue bananas are a food you have to try in your life at least once, so make it your mission to experience their creamy delicious before the year is out!
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