Manzano Bananas (2024)

For Chefs & Produce ManagersFood Service: 323-584-4940 Produce Managers: 800-468-7111

Quantity/Pack: 5 lbs.
Seasonality: Year Round
Origin: Ecuador

One of the more unusual varieties of dessert bananas is the Manzano. It's one of the world's most popular fruits, this banana has been cultivated and enjoyed since ancient times.

A stubby, thick-skinned, golden yellow fruit that is commonly known as the "apple banana", this gourmet banana has a delicious, sweet taste with a hint of apple and strawberry. This short, plump, finger-sized variety will turn dark yellow when ripe. Eat one a day!

The Manzano Banana from Melissa’s is hand-selected for excellent quality. As is true with most bananas, the Manzano is harvested green and then allowed to ripen during shipping. Avoid bananas with split skins. Bananas with brown or black spotted peels only indicate ripeness, while the fruit itself remains unchanged. Store at room temperature. Once ripe, the Manzano may be refrigerated for a few days.

Similar to the common yellow Cavendish banana, the Manzano is smaller and sweeter, with a hint of crunchy apple-strawberry flavor. Not to be confused with the Baby Banana, the pale-gold Manzano actually tastes best when its skin is covered with black spots or has turned completely black. Native to tropical countries like Central and South America, the Caribbean and Mexico, Melissa's Manzano Bananas (in 10# and 20# units) are very popular in Latin American, African and Asian cuisine.

Their velvety texture and unique flavor can be used in fruit salads, ice cream, smoothies, yogurt, pies, puddings, fritters, dumplings, breads or dipped in chocolate and frozen. It may be also serves with cereal, pancakes, waffles, fruit salads, poultry, meats or chilled fruit juices.

This item is perishable and must ship at least 2nd Day.

Anyorders that do not have the appropriate shipping method selected will not be shipped out. For assistance, please call us at 800-588-0151.

Manzano Bananas (2024)

FAQs

How to tell when Manzano bananas are ripe? ›

Manzano bananas are astringent, chalky, and have a tannic aftertaste when unripe. You should wait until there is no green left on the skin or, even better until the skin is very brown or black.

Do Manzano bananas turn yellow? ›

Commodity Overview. Manzano bananas are short and chubby with thick yellow skins that turn completely black when ripe. They're sometimes called the apple banana because of their apple-like flavor when immature.

What are Manzano bananas used for? ›

Chiquita Manzanos are delicious whether tossed in fruit salads, blended in smoothies, baked in breads, or simply eaten as a healthy snack. An average manzano is about four inches long and they have a pale-yellow peel that blackens as the banana ripens.

What is the scientific name for Manzano bananas? ›

Product: Banana Manzano. Family: Musaceae. Scientific Name: Musa sapientum. General characteristics: It is a cylindrical fruit. It is a smaller member of the banana family, but not as small as the Baby Banana and thicker in appearance than the Traditional Banana, with a pale gold outer skin.

What are the 7 stages of banana ripeness? ›

Banana ripening scale

Banana ripening starts with a full green fruit (stage 1 in Fig. 1a), pale green (stages 2), green yellow (stage 3), yellow with green tips (stage 4), bright yellow (stage 5), pale yellow (stage 6) and yellow with brown spots (stage 7) (Fig. 1a).

How to store manzano bananas? ›

Be sure to store your Manzanos at room temp, but once ripened, you can put them in a fridge for a few days. They are fabulous eaten plain but just as delicious as Cavendish bananas in your favorite baked goods.

What is the texture of a Manzano banana? ›

Their velvety texture and unique flavor can be used in fruit salads, ice cream, smoothies, yogurt, pies, puddings, fritters, dumplings, breads or dipped in chocolate and frozen.

Do Manzano bananas taste like regular bananas? ›

If that name doesn't give it away, a ripe Manzano banana actually has a flavor profile similar to a sweet apple or a strawberry.

How tall do Manzano banana trees grow? ›

Planting & Growing

Manzano Banana will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground.

What does manzano mean? ›

Manzano is a Spanish word used for apple trees, and is also used as a patronymic name.

Can dogs eat bananas? ›

Bananas are safe for dogs, but moderation is key. Bananas are high in sugar, so too much of it can put your dog at risk of developing medical conditions. You should give your dog only a few thin slices of banana once in a while. At least 90% of your dog's food should be regular dog food.

What did Chiquita banana used to be called? ›

Chiquita Brands International S. à. r.l. (/tʃɪˈkiːtə/), formerly known as United Fruit Co., is a Swiss-domiciled American producer and distributor of bananas and other produce.

What are banana babies called? ›

Lady Finger bananas, also known as baby bananas, are sweeter and smaller than Cavendish bananas. They're usually around three inches in length and feature a creamy texture and sweet flavor with notes of honey. 5.

Will hard green bananas ripen? ›

Depending on how under-ripe your bananas were to start with, paper-bag ripening will take 1-3 days; putting the bag on top of your fridge or another warm location can speed it up even more. Check them daily, and when the bananas are firm and bright yellow with no trace of green, they're good for eating raw.

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