i was on the flight to Kota Bharu last Saturday to attend a workshop in Gua Musang when i realized that i have no knowledge in differentiating different type of bananas in Malaysia - apart from pisang emas, tanduk & raja udang. It strucked when i turn to a page in the Going Places February 2010 issue (MAS in-flight magazine) explaining about bananas.
i share some of the info...
Malaysia is blessed with around 15 different type of bananas, not including wild jungle species, that come in all soirt of sizes and tastes. Refer to the photos above (from left to right):
1. Emas - stubby and fingerlike, sweet and fragrant
2. Rastali - Distinguishable by black dots, slightly sour but particularly fragrant and delicious
3. Berangan - Medium-sized and sweet, the most commonly available in Malaysia
4. Nipah - Unique angular lines on its skin, usually used to make fritters
5. Red Jungle (raja udang) - A rare find though in fairness its red skin is far more exotic than the taste
6. Pisang Nangka - Stays green even when ripe and with sweet, firm flesh
7. Tanduk - Freakishly long, a plantain with soft, creamy flesh
I'm just wondering which type is exported oversea! Surely not emas!