The Ultimate Guide to Banana Varieties: Unveiling the Unique Characteristics of Each.

Bananas are a popular fruit in Vietnam. The banana plant is used as a vegetable in salads, while the leaves are used for wrapping cakes and the fruit is used in various delicious dishes such as banana flower salad, fried banana, and banana cake.

Just hearing about it makes you want to eat some, right? In addition to being a delicious fruit, bananas are also very beneficial for health and beauty.

When it comes to bananas, you should definitely read the following article. In this article, we will not only discuss the benefits of bananas but also help you understand the different types of bananas and how to distinguish between them. Let’s get started!

1Common Types of Bananas

Green Bananas

Green bananas have an unripe, green peel and a slightly bitter taste. They are crisp and can be used as a raw vegetable, eaten with grilled dishes, or wrapped in rice paper rolls.

Ripe Bananas

Ripe bananas have a beautiful golden color, a soft texture, and a sweet aroma. They can be eaten directly or used in various delicious dishes such as desserts, cakes, and candies.

Now, let’s explore more about the different types of bananas in the following sections!

Western Bananas

Western bananas are a short-statured variety with thick peels. When ripe, they have a light yellow color and white flesh. Western bananas have a unique taste that combines sweetness and a mild sourness, and they are also chewy.

Reference price: 12,000 – 15,000 VND/kg

Western Bananas

Cau Bananas

Cau bananas get their name from their small, round fruit, which resembles the shape of betel nuts. A single cau banana tree can produce a large number of fruits, making it a high-yield crop favored by farmers in Central, Southern Vietnam, and hilly areas.

Unripe cau bananas look very similar to Ngự bananas, and people without experience in choosing bananas may mistake them for each other. However, distinguishing between these two types of bananas is quite simple: cau bananas have a higher fruit density, smoother skin, rounder shape, and usually lack the hair-like strands at the tip of the fruit.

When eaten, cau bananas have a sweet and mild flavor, not as strong as Ngự bananas. Additionally, cau bananas are smaller in size, so you don’t get tired of eating them like other types of bananas.

Reference price: 30,000 – 40,000 VND/kg.

Cau Bananas

Ngự Bananas

As mentioned earlier, cau bananas can be easily mistaken for Ngự bananas, so we want to share some more information about Ngự bananas here. In general, Ngự bananas have a very similar shape to cau bananas, but the distinguishing feature is that Ngự bananas still have the hair-like strands at the tip even when ripe, and they have a lower fruit density compared to cau bananas.

When enjoyed, Ngự bananas have a strong aroma, and their sweetness is so intense that they are named after the word “ngự,” which implies a royal or noble status.

Reference price: 35,000 – 40,000 VND/kg.

Ngự Bananas

Tieu Bananas

Tieu bananas are very popular and widely loved. There are two types of Tieu bananas: short Tieu and tall Tieu. A Tieu banana bunch typically has around 12 fruits. The fruits are curved like a crescent moon, with a deep green color when unripe and turning yellow when ripe. The flesh is a bright yellow color, very aromatic and sweet.

Both green and ripe Tieu bananas are edible. With green Tieu bananas, you can cut them into slices and eat them with raw vegetables, or cook dishes like banana vinegar, fish stewed with bananas, or eel braised with bananas. You can also simply boil them for a delicious snack. As for ripe Tieu bananas, you can eat them directly or use them to make banana smoothies, banana ice cream, banana cake, banana yogurt, and various other desserts.

Reference price: 15,000 – 20,000 VND/kg.

Tieu Bananas

Su Bananas (Hương Bananas)

Su bananas come in two varieties: white Su and green Su. Su bananas are large and not elongated, usually eaten when ripe or when the fruit is still green. When eaten, Su bananas have a sweet and mild fragrance, with a slightly bitter taste.

Reference price: 28,000 VND/kg

Su Bananas (Hương Bananas)

Banana with Seeds

Banana with seeds, also known as bitter bananas, is a very popular variety in Vietnam, famous for its use in banana wine. True to its name, this type of banana has white flesh with many seeds, and it is more bitter than sweet, so it is often used as a vegetable or pickled in wine.

Reference price: 90,000 – 100,000 VND/kg for dried banana with seeds.

Banana with Seeds

Bom Bananas

Bom Bananas

This variety is commonly grown in the Southeast region of Vietnam, and it has a high yield, producing a bunch of bananas every four months. The fruits are used for fresh consumption or banana chips, and due to their low cost, they are also used as animal feed.

Reference price: 10,000 VND/kg

Ngop Bananas

There are two types of Ngop bananas: high Ngop and low Ngop. The distinguishing feature of this variety is that the fruits are relatively large, with thick, dark brown peels when ripe, and the flesh is soft and slightly sour.

Lùn Bananas

Lùn Bananas

Lùn bananas offer numerous health benefits, especially for children, growing teenagers, people recovering from illness, and the elderly. They are also good for those with joint problems, diarrhea, and dysentery. The fruits are characterized by their plumpness and sweetness when ripe.

Reference price: 15,000 – 18,000 VND/kg

Tieu Hong Bananas

Tieu Hong Bananas

The distinctive features of this type of banana are its delicious taste, attractive color, and ability to remain intact even when ripe. Tieu Hong bananas are currently being exported from Vietnam.

Laba Bananas

Laba Bananas

Laba bananas are a specialty of Da Lat, Lam Dong, and they are well-known for their chewy texture, sweet fragrance, and distinctive taste.

Reference price: 15,000 – 20,000 VND/kg

Tao Qua Bananas

Tao Qua Bananas

Tao Qua bananas differ from other banana varieties in that they cannot be eaten directly and must be boiled before consumption. When eaten, they have a nutty and chewy texture. The fruits are about the size of a wrist, measuring 40-50 cm in length.

Reference price: 9,000 – 12,000 VND/fruit.

Gia Huong Bananas

Gia Huong Bananas

Gia Huong bananas are very nutritious, characterized by their length and curved shape, and they remain green even when ripe. This variety of banana is also one of the famous tropical fruits being exported from Vietnam.

Reference price: 20,000 VND/kg

Cau Lua Bananas

Cau Lua Bananas

Cau Lua bananas are similar in appearance to Cau bananas, but they differ in color, as Cau Lua bananas have a reddish color when unripe.

Cha Bot Bananas

Cha Bot Bananas

Cha Bot bananas have a delicious, aromatic taste when the flesh is ripe. They are widely available in the Vietnamese market.

Com Bananas

Com bananas have a sweet and nutty taste, with small, round fruits. Due to their small size, they are suitable for children to eat.

Com Bananas

2Health Benefits of Bananas

Bananas Help with Weight Loss

Bananas are rich in soluble fiber, which makes you feel full for a longer period and also has fewer calories. Therefore, eating bananas can be an effective weight loss strategy, as you will be less likely to crave other foods after consuming them.

Bananas Help with Weight Loss

Bananas Help Treat Acne

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