The exotic red banana, grown in the Canary Islands, is now appearing on the Iberian peninsula as well. The Spanish consumer is seeing more and more exotic fruits in their supermarkets, such as lychees, passion fruit and tamarinds. The most recent is the red banana which, unlike the rest, doesn’t come from the other side of the world but from Spain’s Canary Islands.
The product is part of the Alcampo “Controlled Production” range. Their red color makes them very attractive; they are priced at €3.20 per kilo.
The red banana is not of the Cavendish variety, like the traditional Canary Island banana. Apart from their exterior color they also have a different flavor. They are slightly smaller and have a tougher, bright purple skin. However, the interior of the fruit looks much like a normal banana, although, there is a slightly pinkish tone to it. The texture is very similar, but the flavor has subtle hints of red fruits, particularly raspberry.
Despite the premier of the red banana on the Peninsula, it is possible to find this variety in Spain outside of the Canary Islands “In the microclimate of Almuñécar the plant has adapted extraordinarily, in fact, it is much more robust than the other types of plantains and bananas that we grow,” Manuel Mateos, head of Tiendadefruta.com, told euroweeklynews.com.