Archeologists have focused on the Kuk valley of New Guinea around 8,000 BCE (Before Common Era) as the area where humans first domesticated the banana.
Did bananas originate Africa?
Bananas as we know them began to be developed in Africa about 650 AD. There was a cross breeding of two varieties of wild bananas, the Musa Acuminata and the Musa Baalbisiana. From this process, some bananas became seedless and more like the bananas we eat today.
Where are bananas original originally from?
Bananas are thought to have been first domesticated in Southeast Asia, and their consumption is mentioned in early Greek, Latin, and Arab writings; Alexander the Great saw bananas on an expedition to India.
When did banana reach Africa?
They were brought west by Arab conquerors in 327 B.C. and moved from Asia Minor to Africa and finally carried to the New World by the first explorers and missionaries to the Caribbean. The mass production of bananas started in 1834 and really started exploding in the late 1880’s.
Is plantain indigenous to Africa?
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.
Why do Africans eat bananas?
They are key to survival. The bananas grown in Africa, for example, are a starchy staple much like plantains and are the major source of carbohydrate to millions of poor people. They are cooked and mashed to make matoke, a vital building block of the meal in many countries.
What is the oldest fruit?
Figs – the world’s oldest fruits
Fig trees have been grown since ancient times, which is why figs are often referred to as the oldest fruits known to man.
When did humans start eating bananas?
The earliest prior evidence indicates that cultivation dates to no earlier than late 6th century CE. It is likely, however, that bananas were brought at least to Madagascar if not to the East African coast during the phase of Malagasy colonization of the island from South East Asia c. 400 CE.
What was the original banana called?
It is fascinating that what we call a ‘banana’ today is not what was historically considered to be a banana. The original banana is currently known as the cooking banana or plantain. However, modern bananas simply need to ripen and turn yellow and then they are ready to be eaten raw.
What came first banana or plantain?
“If the term ‘crop’ signifies a plant that can be grown for subsistence, then the plantain and the edible diploid bananas may indeed have been the first fruit crop.” It might be easiest, then, to begin—but not end—with the banana, whose origins are generally considered to be in Southeast Asia between 8000-5000 BCE.
Where was the banana first domesticated?
Southeast Asia
Previous archaeological and linguistic studies have indicated that cultivated banana was initially domesticated by farmers in Southeast Asia about 7,000 years ago, and subsequently introduced into other regions of the world by transmigrants or travelers [1], [2], [3].
Are the original bananas extinct?
Bananas have gone extinct before. The Gros Michel banana was the banana of choice until the 1950s. They were slightly bigger than the Cavendish, with a stronger flavour. This was until a fungal disease called Panama disease struck, which almost wiped out the species.
Who brought plantain 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.
What is difference between banana and plantain?
Plantains are usually larger and tougher than bananas, with much thicker skin. They may be green, yellow, or very dark brown. Plantains are starchier than bananas and not very sweet when green. When ripe, they are sweeter and become more so when cooked.
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.
Why do Somalis eat bananas with everything?
The idea is to mash the banana and incorporate it in the morsel you are going to eat. Given that Somali food is usually eaten with bes bes, the sweetness of the banana nicely offsets the spice.
Are bananas native to Kenya?
Matoke bananas are a staple food crop in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and other Great Lakes countries. They are also known as the Mutika/Lujugira subgroup.
Matoke.
| East African Highland bananas | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Uganda |
| Cultivar group members | See text |
What is the national fruit of Uganda?
National fruit of Uganda is Banana.
What’s the rarest fruit in the world?
15 Of The Rarest & Weirdest Exotic Fruits On This Planet
- Black Sapote.
- Gac Fruit.
- Kiwano Melon.
- Lychee.
- Mangosteen.
- Buddha’s Hand.
- Jabuticaba.
- Dragon Fruit.
What is the oldest food on earth?
Bread
Bread is one the very first foods made by mankind. It is believed that bread was first made some 30000 years ago.
What is the most uncommon fruit?
The 10 Rarest Fruits From Around The World And Where To Find Them
- 8 Miracle Berry.
- 7 Hala Fruit.
- 6 Australian Finger Lime.
- 5 Jabuticaba.
- 4 Mangosteen.
- 3 Rambutan.
- 2 Durian.
- 1 Jackfruit.