Bananas

  • Costache Rareș Mihai

  • Clasa a 12-a B

  • Colegiul Național “Mircea cel Bătrân”

General details

Banana is the fruit of the herbaceous plant in the genus Musa. The banana plant looks like a palm tree: an enormous plant with long leaves which can grow up to 20m, being the tallest herbaceous plant in the world. It grows in tropical countries, especially in South Africa, Central America and Caribbean. Initially, bananas grow straight, but then, they search the sunlight. Because of this, Arabs called these fruits “banan” which means “finger” due to its shape.

Bananas come in a wide range of shapes and colours. Mike Peed, journalist for “The New Yorker”, describes the range of banana types: bananas with bubblegum pink peel or with green and white stripes with pulp the color of orange sherbet that, when cooked, taste like strawberries. The Chinese name of the aromatic Go San Heong banana means ‘You can smell it from the next mountain. The most common banana sold is the Cavendish banana, a mutant accidentally found by Jean Fracois Poujot in 1836 on his plantation in Jamaica. Other popular types are Lemon Banana, with a light lemon flavor, Manzanos, which flavor and taste reminds of an apple, Red banana, Green Banana and Lacatan, considered the tastiest banana in the world.

Spiritually, bananas have powerful meaning, being used in the most important Hindu rituals. In India, bananas were known as the “wise man fruits” because men used to meditate in the banana plant’s shadow. What’s more, in the Malay folklore it is said that the spirit of a woman who died while giving birth to a child rests during daytime near banana plants. During night, Pontianak haunts persons, killing her victims by eating their organs.

Bananas are an excellent source of B6 vitamin, 100g of bananas containing 31% of the daily value. Contrary to popular belief that bananas have a high amount of potassium, 100g contain 8% of DV. However, they have a moderate amount of manganese. Bananas also contain vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B9 between 3% and 7% of DV/100g. It is found, in small proportions iron, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc. 100g of bananas contain 23g of carbohydrates which 12g sugars, 0.33g of fats and 1g of proteins, producing 89kcal.

The benefits of bananas are diversified. They prevent depression, protect against muscle cramps and strengthen the bones. Because of this, athletes are encouraged to eat bananas before training. In addition, bananas help digestion and heavy metals’ elimination due to pectin and fiber. They are recommended for ones who want to give up smoking too. They facilitate a quick and easy recovery after years of smoking and they shrink the recidivism possibility because of their anti-depressive effects.

Recipe

Bananas are the base of some outstanding dishes. One of them is banana cream cake.
prajitura_banane
Ingredients for crust are:

  • 1 cup of cashews

  • 1 cup of coconut

  • 1/2 cup of dates

The ingredients for cream are:

  • 2 bananas

  • 3/4 cups of cashews

  • 1/4 cups of honey

  • 1/4 cups of lemon juice

  • 1/3 cups of coconut oil

  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla

The crust’s ingredients are mixed well and put in the form. Cream’s ingredients are blended until they become a creamy mixture and then the cream is laid over the crust. The cake is covered and then it is left in the freezer overnight.

I eat bananas since I was very young. They are the first fruits which my mother gave me to eat. Since then, banana has been one of my favorites. It is easy and quick to eat and it gives you a boost of energy. Beacause of this, bananas are the perfect fruits to start the day with.

Bibliography