Banana is no longer considered exotic on the table of Russian residents. You can buy it at any store or fruit and vegetable market. It has become such a familiar fruit that few people are already wondering: where do bananas come from in Russia and how did they even get into our country?
What is a banana?
Banana, no matter how strange it may sound, is considered a grass, not a tree. It ranks second in size after bamboo among all existing herbs. This is a fairly popular fruit that has spread throughout the world. There are a huge number of varieties on which the shape and size of a banana depends. Basically, it has an elongated cylindrical shape with a length of 3 to 40 cm and a thickness of 2-4 cm. All varieties are divided into 3 groups:
- Forage - low-value varieties, grow in unpretentious conditions and go to feed livestock.
- Table - larger fruits, can reach up to 50 cm in length. They are steamed, fried and made into chips. Such bananas are rarely exported.
- Dessert - yellow or green, straight and faceted, up to 35 cm long. It is dessert bananas that we see on store shelves.
History of appearance in Russia
In our country for a long time they did not know what a banana was. The first time the USSR bought a large batch of bananas was in 1938. At that time, few people suspected the beginning of the World War, and the successfully completed industrialization made it possible to use part of the proceeds in foreign currency for the purchase of exotic goods. By the end of 1939, this fruit was sold in almost all stores in the capital, and a little later appeared in other regions of the USSR.
Mass purchases began around 1950. By this time, the country's economy had practically recovered from a long war, and a record rate of economic growth was recorded for the first time since 1945. But the most important thing is that the countries in which those bananas grow were in the sphere of influence. Most of the population of the USSR had no idea where bananas were brought to Russia from. At that time, the main supplier was China and Vietnam. Later they were replaced by Latin America, and by 1970 Ecuador was already supplying about 9 thousand tons of bananas.
Where do bananas come from to Russia
Ecuador delivers the bulk of bananas to Russia, as before - about 1 million tons per year. This country has an ideal climate for growing bananas, and the number of plantations there is off the charts. Some of them have already been bought by our Russian entrepreneurs who supply their products to Russia. They bringbananas to Russia are green, then they undergo a process of gassing and get on the counter already yellow. The cost of grown bananas is low, so Ecuador is the leader among suppliers. It is followed by China and Turkey.
Banana benefits
Due to its high nutritional value, a banana is a high-calorie food, but at the same time it is considered a dietary fruit. It contains a large number of enzymes, as well as malic acid. Together, they improve digestion. Banana is rich in vitamin C, although it does not taste sour at all. Ascorbic acid is a powerful antioxidant that slows down the aging process. Vitamin A is necessary for good vision, normal heart function, and B vitamins are responsible for the condition of the skin, hair and nails. It is for this reason that banana is often included in hair masks, it gives hair shine and prevents split ends. This is probably why residents of the “banana countries” have gorgeous hair, from where bananas are brought to Russia.
Magnesium and potassium, which are part of this familiar fruit, help the heart, liver and brain. If you combine a sports lifestyle and actively include bananas in your diet, you can easily build muscle mass. In addition, it is able to increase sexual activity not only in men, but also in women. In Ecuador, from where bananas are brought to Russia, residents use it every day and cook all kinds of dishes from it.
Do bananas grow in Russia?
BIn our country, bananas can be found not only in botanical gardens. A little south of the city of Sochi grows the northernmost banana of the Basio variety, or it is also called Japanese. It has edible red fruits, but, unfortunately, in our harsh conditions they do not ripen. By winter, the green part of the grass dies off, and by spring, new ones, up to 2.5 meters long and 60 cm wide, actively grow from growth points. It is also worth noting that over the past few years, some varieties of bananas have been grown on the southern coast of the Crimean peninsula. Maybe in the future the supplier will be not only Ecuador, where bananas are brought to Russia, but also the Crimea?
Banana Dishes
This exotic fruit, it turned out, is eaten not only fresh. In the countries from where bananas are brought to Russia,it is fried, baked and dried. In addition, for its sweet taste, it was attributed to dessert products, so a banana is added to confectionery and served with ice cream. In Latin America, slices of fried banana are a common side dish. In Venezuela, yo-yo is considered a national dish - soft cheese, fixed with a wooden stick between fried banana slices. And the people of the Philippines cook ketchup from bananas with the addition of all kinds of spices.
