Plantains are native to India and the Caribbean where they are treated as more vegetable than fruit. Although there is no formal botanical distinction between bananas and plantains, “dessert” bananas are generally eaten raw, while plantains are cooked because of their high starch/low sugar.
Where do plantains originally come from?
Plantains are believed to have originated in Southeast Asia. Two groups of plantains are thought to have a common origin: the horn plantain and the French plantain. Both types grow in India, Africa, Egypt, and tropical America. The French plantains also occur in Indonesia and the islands of the Pacific.
How did plantains get to the Caribbean?
Spanish and African slave traders brought the fruit with them to the Caribbean on slave ships. Plantains proved to be a cheap and filling provision for enslaved men and women. The abundance of plantains and their versatility made them the staple ingredient that they are today.
Do plantains grow in the Caribbean?
As Komolafe notes in her Times piece, “[L]ike bananas, plantains grow in tropical and subtropical climates across the globe, ensuring that they are always in season and making them a crucial ingredient in cuisines across West Africa, South and Central America, India and the Caribbean.”
Where are plantains indigenous?
Southeast Asia
The edible fruit of the plantain has more starch than the banana and is not eaten raw. The plant is believed to have originated in Southeast Asia.
Is plantain native to Jamaica?
Jamaican plantains are native to India and are grown extensively in the tropics. They are susceptible to strong winds as they are a plant rather than a tree. Plantain plays an important role in the Jamaican cuisine, it is used as vegetable, source of carbohydrate and deserts.
Who brought plantain to Jamaica?
The Gros Michel is said to have been introduced to Jamaica by Jean Francois Pouyat, a French botanist and chemist who settled here in 1820. He brought the fruit back from Martinique to his coffee estate in an attempt perhaps to diversify his produce.
Do plantains come from Cuba?
Plantains are one of the most common ingredients used throughout the Caribbean and South and Central America. The tradition of cooking plantains was brought to the Americas by slaves from West Africa and is now a mainstay in the Cuban kitchen.
Are plantains Mexican or Cuban?
A super popular Cuban side dish, plantains are served with just about every entrée. In fact, most Cuban dishes are naked without a side of maduros (ripe fried plantains) or tostones (twice-fried green plantains).
Are bananas native to the Caribbean?
Bananas aren’t native to the Caribbean, but they do grow abundantly there, so they naturally became a staple of the Caribbean diet. Green bananas can also be used in place of plantains when plantains aren’t available.
What country is known for plantain?
Cameroon is the world’s largest producer of plantains. The country exports approximately 4.31 million tons of plantains yearly. They are largely produced in the southern and western part of Cameroon. The fertile soils allow the plantains to grow well.
Why did Jamaica stop exporting bananas?
This was not a successful enterprise as UK market prices had plunged and Jamaica’s cost of production was high. Jamaica’s banana exports to the UK since then have been minimal. Exports from Jamaica are now mainly to Canada, UK and the Cayman Islands.
Is plantain native to America?
Common plantain is considered a weed and grows in disturbed areas such as lawns, fields, and roadsides. It is not native to western North America; it appears to have been introduced to North America from Eurasia, where it is common and widespread. It is also common in BC, especially in areas of human settlement.
Who brought plantains to Africa?
It is said that In the 15th century plantains were found by Portuguese explorers in Western Africa and taken back to there home for planting. Portuguese explorers found bananas in western Africa and planted some back home.
How do plantains grow in Trinidad?
Initial plantain plant care requires well-draining soil, regular watering, and protection from wind or frost. Choose a sunny, warm area of your garden and dig a hole that is as deep as the root ball. Plant the plantain at the same level it was growing in the pot. Keep the plantain 4-6 feet (1-2 m.)
What are Jamaican bananas called?
The traditional varieties of bananas grown in Jamaica include Robusta, Williams (Ziv), Grand Nain, Lacatan, and Gros Michel.
Which ethnic group brought banana to Jamaica?
the Spanish
Bananas, native to Southeast Asia, were brought to Jamaica in the early 16th century by the Spanish. Today, bananas are an important source of farm income, especially in St. Mary, Portland and St. James, and the fruit is a very popular staple among Jamaicans, whether green or ripe.
Do they grow bananas in Jamaica?
Countries where bananas are a main export crop are Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname and Colombia.
What food did the African bring to the Caribbean?
The slaves’ diet consisted of a mix of traditional African foods brought over to the Caribbean (including okra, blackeyed peas, saltfish, ackee, mangos, kidney beans and rice), vegetables and fruits native to the Caribbean (such as papaya, yams, guavas and cassava).
What did the Africans bring to Jamaica?
African. British Colonization brought the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and with it came West African cuisine. This includes classics like jerk sauce, which traces its roots to West African jerk pork. It’s also the source of the famous ackee fruit, which is a part of Jamaica’s national dish, Ackee and Saltfish.
What food did the African bring to Jamaica?
Benjie points as an example to the island’s produce, its yams and plantains, which were first brought from Africa to Jamaica during the days of slavery as fuel for enslaved Africans on the island’s plantations.