Some Important Banana Facts

In order to learn about some important banana facts, we should first learn about the origin of this fantastic fruit.

• Bananas come from the Indo-Malaysian region; it slowly reached northern Australia.

• Common names for which people have used to refer to bananas are 'Banana', 'Plantain', 'Curro', 'Bananier Nain', and 'Canbur'.

• The most vital banana facts that will always remain true is that it consists of high vitamin contents and calorie enrichment.

• Banana plants are the world's fourth largest crop. It is grown typically in a hot, moist area. Ten months of hot temperature is needed to produce the fruit's flowers. Banana plants require protection from the wind, sunlight, and extreme temperatures.

• Other important banana facts: Banana plants grow from rhizomes in the ground. They grow from the middle of the stem after 10 to 15 months.

• Banana plants can grow up to nine feet in length and two feet in width. The leaves of banana plants come out from the centre of the stalk and stretch outwards. The inflorescence of the banana coming out from the middle of the plant first looks like a long, oval-shaped, purple-colored bud. From there, the flowers gradually appear.

• The first five to fifteen rows of bananas are female. These first females contain ovaries and grow quickly into groups of fruits, also called 'hands'. The number of hands that will grow will depend on the types and species of bananas.

• Bananas generally turn from dark green to red or yellow. The flavor of the fruit may be sweet or mild. Some bananas may have seeds and some may be seedless.

• Bananas requires generous warmth and would be best if grown alongside an asphalt or cement construction, such as a building or a walkway.

• Banana plants require protection from heavy wind and high temperatures. Support for the banana plant is required when the fruits are starting to appear.

• Banana plants grow in almost all types of soil, but a well-drained, rich soil is good. An acid soil is preferred with a pH between 6.5 and 5.5.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_J_Lee

Durian. The King of Fruits.

This is something a little different from my usual rant on food.

I figure … after completing a hundred posts, some changes would be refreshing. I would love to include more articles on food, rather than just sharing opinions on restaurants and food eateries.

And …

Have you ever noticed, my photos feature only food and occasionally … the personnel working in the food outlets. I’ve never posted a photo of my other friends enjoying food together with me. Which is something I would like to incorporate into my blog. Like someone wise who told me … adding a ‘personal touch’ to my blog. Perhaps in my next article ….

For now, let’s talk about one of Asian’s favorite fruit ….the Durian. Yes, I am sure some of you tend to disagree with me for saying that this is Asians favorite fruit. But, look at it this way …. if you live in Malaysia, Singapore or even in the neighboring countries, you are bound to have heard of the Durian. There are only 2 opinions … you either REALLY LOVE it or you REALLY HATE it. There is no such thing is … “Nah … I don’t like it … but I’ll just take some” …. right?

Anyway, what is it about the durian that made it so special?

The durian is a seasonal fruit, unlike some other non-seasonal tropical fruits such as the papaya which are available throughout the year. In Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, the season for durians is typically from June to August, which coincides with that of the mangosteen.

The edible flesh of a Durian emits a distinctive odour, strong and penetrating even when the husk is intact. Some people regard the durian as fragrant; others find the aroma overpowering and offensive. The smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust. The odour has led to the fruit’s banishment from certain hotels and public transportation in southeast Asia.

But odour or not, durian is always welcomed in my home. And if you need some help on how to enjoy this marvelous nature’s creation, here’s a little suggestion that might help. Suggestively ….

Now, a word of caution. Always remember to get the durian seller to ‘crack’ open the durian if you plan to take it home for consumption. Else, it’s going to be a challenging task for your to crack the durian yourself. A certain skill is required for that. Anyway, once you passed that part …. time to enjoy the good stuff !

Here are more steps for your to follow … including drinking water from the durian husk which has ‘cooling’ effect, something which the westerners may not understand.

Customs & Beliefs

Southeast Asian folk beliefs, as well as traditional Chinese medicine, consider the durian fruit to have warming properties liable to cause excessive sweating. The traditional method to counteract this is to pour water into the empty shell of the fruit after the husk has been consumed and drink it. An alternative method is to eat the durian in accompaniment with mangosteen, which is considered to have cooling properties. Pregnant women or people with high blood pressure are traditionally advised not to consume durian.

The Javanese believe durian to have aphrodisiac qualities, and impose a set of rules on what may or may not be consumed with it or shortly thereafter. A saying in Indonesian, durian jatuh sarung naik, meaning “the durians fall and the sarongs come up”, refers to this belief. The warnings against the supposed lecherous quality of this fruit soon spread to the West — the Swedenborgian philosopher Herman Vetterling commented on so-called “erotic properties” of the durian in the early 20th century.