Purple Banana | Growth, Benefits, And Fun Facts

Can bananas be purple?

Bananas have about 1,000 varieties available around the globe. They are available in different sizes and colors.

Mostly we eat, buy, and use Cavendish bright yellow bananas. But there is a wide range of bananas, including the colors pink, red, and even purple.

A lot of people don’t realize that you can buy other colors of bananas besides yellow, So here we will one of those questions that keep popping up, “are purple bananas real?”

But can you eat purple bananas?

The simple answer is, Yes. Purple bananas can be eaten just link your standard yellow banana.

Fruits like bananas are rich in many nutrients, including antioxidants, fibers, and vitamin C. No matter what the color, they are incredibly delicious and beneficial for the human body.

Do you Want to know more about purple banana fruit? In this article, we will discuss this in detail.

Let’s dive in:

What Is Purple Banana?

Purple bananas are red that turn purple when baked. They have reddish-purple skin and taste similar to yellow bananas mixed with raspberries. The report says that a purple banana has better health benefits than a typical yellow banana.

These red bananas are shorter and plumper than yellow and should be eaten only when entirely ripped. Moreover, they will achieve a purple tint when in an acidic environment.

So why do bananas turn purple when baked?

Bananas turn purple due to a simple chemical reaction. The potassium in the fruit reacts with the sugars once any heat is applied, initially turning the banana a pink color. However, the riper the fruit, the more sugar it contains, and the stronger the reaction will be.

When you cook a red banana, the purple color will appear if you add a little gallic acid. Neither the taste nor the safety of the fruit is affected, making it perfectly fine to eat.

Where And How do They Grow?

These bananas are native to the East African highlands. The bananas grow on a Royal Purple Banana Tree (musa ornata).

Large brightly colored flowers attract bumble bees butterflies and hummingbirds. When the flowers diminish and make way for fruit spectacular bright pinkish-purple bananas emerge.

They can quickly grow in dry weather conditions. They cannot tolerate frost and high humidity. However, an expert gardener can grow them in high humidity as well.

If you want to add to your planting, you must be careful with a few watering and fertilization sections. The requirements are rich soil with plenty of organic matter and bright or partial sun. Make sure to use well-drained soil.

What do purple bananas taste like?

Purple bananas taste like yellow bananas mixed with raspberries, Some people describe the purple bananas taste as a hint of raspberry tart and sweetness! 

Are purple bananas sweet?

The red banana tree produces reddish purple bananas that, when ripened to light pink, are sweeter, softer, and smaller than the yellow bananas we’re all familiar with.

Benefits Of Purple Bananas

Red banana is highly rich in antioxidants, fiber, vitamin C and B6, and beta carotene.

We will mention a few significant benefits of the Purple banana. Here is a list of a few of the purple banana benefits.

1. Helps In Weight Loss

Bananas are wealthy with a lot of fibers. Fibers keep you full for many hours. An entire banana has 90 to 100 calories, including carbohydrates. These all nutrients help you avoid binge eating and prevent cravings. In this way, it supports you in weight loss.

2. Manage High Blood Pressure

Purple bananas are rich in potassium, and potassium is an excellent mineral to prevent health diseases. It plays a vital role in the regulation of blood pressure. Potassium dilates blood veins, which improves blood flow and helps prevent illnesses such as cardiovascular disorders.

3. Good For Eyesight

Purple banana contains two carotenoids, lutein, and beta carotene, which help to improve your eyesight. They support you in preventing age-related muscular degeneration. So, eat this tasty fruit and reduce the chances of eye diseases such as night blindness and improve vision.

4. Good For Skin

These bananas are rich in antioxidants, including vitamins C and A, preventing premature aging and reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Collagen is a key to good health. Vitamin C in the purple banana helps in the production of collagen. It prevents skin from sagging and makes you look younger.

5. Good For Hairs

If you’re looking for a solution to get rid of dandruff, a purple banana can help. During the cold months, many have to face this problem. Bananas mask helps with almond oil, coconut, and sesame to moisturize hair. It also helps in controlling the dryness of hair and hair fall. Use a banana mask to avoid these problems.

6. Manage Diabetes

Most people have diabetes all around the globe. Diabetes can be controlled by improving glycemic control. Consuming purple bananas can be beneficial for lowering glycemic indexes that reduce the glucose level in the blood.

7. Prevent Kidney Stone

These bananas are high in potassium, which helps prevent kidney stones formation. It is also suitable for your bones. Purple bananas contain calcium, which helps grow bones and makes them stronger.

8. Helps In Quitting Smoking

You might find it surprising, but this is true. The purple banana contains a high amount of magnesium and potassium that helps quit nicotine. These nutrients support coping with the after-giving-up nicotine syndrome. It also helps in boosting your energy level.

If you have any kind of stress, eating them will help you give positive energy.

Difference Between Yellow Banana And Purple Banana

Purple bananas are closely related to yellow bananas. Both are highly antioxidants and rich in vitamins, fibers, and carotene. They provide high calories and carbs similarly.

But if you compare both of them, here are the differences you can find easily.

• Purple bananas are small and thicker.
• Richer in Vitamin C.
• High in a few antioxidants.
• Have a mildly sweet taste.
• Have a lower glycemic index (GI) score.

Both types of bananas taste sweet. But the purple banana has a lower GI score. GI is a glycemic index counted from 0 to 1000 used to measure how rapidly any food can increase blood sugar levels.

Some Fun Facts About The Royal Purple Banana Plants

• Despite the purple color, it’s known as “Red Banana” or “Dacca” worldwide.
• They are much dense and sweet compared to yellow bananas.
• In cooler zones, a containerized banana plant can be relocated indoors for the winter months.
• The royal purple banana plant contains prebiotics that maintains digestive system health.
• You need to ensure that the temperature is in accordance with the shipping plants enclosed in a box.
• In addition to creating the ultimate tropical garden appearance, bananas can contribute to your culinary adventures.
• These bananas are clump-forming plants often producing 3-5 off-sets per year.
• The royal purple banana tree flowers attract bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
• Royal Purple reaches 5-9 feet when mature with bright green leaves sporting a purple underside midrib. 
• Banana plants are easy to grow, tropical flowering plants that produce multiple hands of delicious fruit.

Where To Buy Purple Bananas?

You might not be able to find this delicious fruit near your home grocery store. This fruit is a subgroup originating, which mostly thrives in regions like Southeast Asia. If you are serious about buying purple, you can find it in westernized countries like the USA, Canada, and all around Europe.

These bananas are less popular, so vendors cannot buy them. But a few vendors in LA or London offer them. In small cities and towns, they are less popular.

Dole brand offers them, but they are non-organic. Online Etsy has a few options you can choose from. You can buy a whole bunch of purple bananas easily on this website.

Also Check: How To Mince Lemongrass? 6 Easy Steps

Conclusion

Purple bananas are pretty similar to the usual bright yellow banana we eat. Both are antioxidants and highly rich in vitamins C, A, and B6, Fiber, and carotene. But comparatively, purple ones are richer in vitamins and fibers.

It is also beneficial for your body, such as it helps in the formation of kidney stones, managing Diabetes, and is Good for skin and health. The taste is mildly sweeter than the other one. Eat them daily to keep your body fit and healthy.