Food - Drink
What Are Apple Bananas And What Do They Actually Taste Like?
By STEPHANIE FRIEDMAN
An apple banana might sound like a cross breed of apples and bananas, but this fruit is actually a type of banana that gets its name from its sweet, tangy apple-like flavor.
Apple bananas, scientifically known as Musa balbisiana x acuminata, are smaller and sweeter than Cavendish bananas, the most common type of banana in the United States.
Apple bananas are thought to have originated in the Philippines around 3,000 years ago, but today they grow throughout Southeast Asia, South America, and Hawaii.
These fruits are only about 5 inches long, with a straight or slightly curved shape, a yellow outside, and rosy flesh that is firm, moist, and not as creamy as Cavendish bananas.
Apple banana flesh has notes of apple, strawberry, pineapple, and a floral hint. They work wonderfully in any banana recipe, though you'll need to use more since they're smaller.
You can find the fruit at Asian or Latin American markets, farmers’ markets, or online. Make sure the bananas are firm and yellow; brown spots on the peel signify more sweetness.
Nutritionally, apple bananas have fewer calories and more vitamin C than Cavendish bananas, along with a good amount of potassium, fiber, amino acids, and vitamins B12, D, and A.