Facts about Banana

 The banana is a popular fruit. It has great versatility and a complimentary flavor used in many different cuisines and dishes, from curry to ice cream.

But, there is a lot more to know about banana.

 

 

 

Did You Know?

• Bananas may have been the world's first cultivated fruit. Archaeologists have found evidence of banana cultivation in New Guinea as far back as 8000 B.C.
• The Latin name for banana is “musa sapientum,” which translates to the fruit of the wise men.
• The banana is scientifically a berry, whereas the strawberry is not. This comes down to the classification of a berry. A berry must contain seeds inside the flesh, not outside.
• The biggest producers of bananas are India and China. India produces about 29 million tonnes on average per year, while China produces about 11 million tonnes.
• Bananas are made of about 75% water.
• About 5.6 million hectares of land are used for banana production around the globe.
• The European Union (32%) and the United States (25%) are the largest importers of bananas.
• Philippines has the highest per capita consumption, about 132 per year, followed by Brazil. About 100 billion bananas are consumed globally each year.
• Each bunch could have between 3 to 20 tiers and each tier could contain up to 20 bananas. A bunch could weigh between 66 and 110 pounds.
• A bunch of bananas is called a hand; a single banana is a finger.
• Bananas that are exported are picked green and ripened at the destination country.
• There are almost 1,000 varieties of bananas, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
• A U.S. study found that bananas can actually help lower your risk of stroke and heart attack due to the level of potassium they contain. They do this by lowering the risk of stiffness in the aorta and hardening in the arteries.
• Bananas are a healthy source of fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and various antioxidants and phytonutrients.
• Green bananas have a very high starch content – as the fruit yellows, this starch turns into sugars.
• The banana is produced asexually because it’s a sterile species, making it basically a clone of the elder.