Description: Banana fruit grows in hanging clusters and these clusters are known as the banana stem or a “bunch.” It is mostly chopped and soaked in buttermilk before being cooked. Sizes vary but it is usually around 10 inches in most markets. You will find it in various colours like off white, light pink and purple.

Season: Year-round.

Where It Grows

Banana stems evolve from banana trees which are originated from primarily the Indo-Malaysian region. Today, most bananas are grown in tropical regions like South America, Central America and the Caribbean, as well as the United States.

How it Grows

A banana plant grows from a root sort of like a tulip bulb. The plant grows rapidly and can reach its full height of 20 – 40 feet in about nine months.  The “trunk” of the plant is actually made up of closely packed leaves wrapped around each other. After growing for about 6 to 8 months, the plant will have a nice crown of leaves. At this point, a flowering stem emerges from the top and a large bud begins to develop.

As the bud unfolds, it reveals double rows of tiny flowers. Each of these flowers will become an individual banana, or a “finger.” Each row of bananas is called a “hand” and is made up of 14 – 20 fingers. Because the stem will grow about 9 – 12 hands that means up to 240 bananas per plant.

Did you know?

• Nowadays even doctors recommend including banana stem in the diet, for patients who suffer from gall bladder stones.
• Banana stem is full of fiber, a cup of banana stem is very filling and will keep you satiated for a long time.
• Banana stem is excellent for diabetics, as it does not raise the blood sugar level sharply but drink the juice without straining it to retain the fiber.
• Banana stem juice is also very effective for treating urinary tract infections.