Banana has long been considered exotic on the table of the inhabitants of Russia. It can be bought at any store or fruit and vegetable market. It has become such a familiar fruit that few people have already wondered: where did bananas come from to Russia and how did they even get into our country?
What is a banana?
A banana, however strange it may sound, is considered grass, not a tree. It is the second largest after bamboo among all existing herbs. This is a fairly popular fruit that has gained distribution around 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 from 3 to 40 cm long and 2-4 cm thick. All varieties are divided into 3 groups:
- Feed - low-value varieties, grow in unpretentious conditions and go to livestock feed.
- Canteen - larger fruits, can reach up to 50 cm in length. They are steamed, fried and chips are made from them. 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 is. The first time the USSR purchased a large batch of bananas 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 metropolitan stores, and a little later it appeared in other regions of the USSR.
Mass purchases began around 1950. By this time, the country's economy had almost recovered after 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 same bananas grow were in the sphere of influence. Most of the population of the USSR had no idea where bananas were brought from to Russia. At that time, China and Vietnam were the main suppliers. 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?
In Russia, the bulk of bananas, as before, is supplied by Ecuador - about 1 million tons per year. In this country, the ideal climate for growing bananas, and the number of plantations there just rolls over. Some of them have already been bought out by our Russian entrepreneurs who supply their products to Russia. Bananas are brought to Russia in green, then they go through the aeration procedure and are already yellow on the counter. The cost of grown bananas is low, therefore Ecuador is a leader among suppliers. It is followed by China and Turkey.
What is useful banana
Due to its high nutritional value, banana belongs to high-calorie dishes, but at the same time it is considered a dietary fruit. It contains a large number of enzymes, as well as malic acid. In combination, they improve digestion. A banana is rich in vitamin C, although it tastes quite acidic. 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. For this reason, banana is often included in the composition of hair masks, it gives the hair shine and prevents split ends. This is probably why residents of “banana countries” possess elegant hair from where bananas are brought to Russia.
Magnesium and potassium, which are part of this familiar to us fruit, help the heart, liver and brain. If you combine a sports lifestyle and actively include bananas in your diet, then you can easily build muscle. In addition, he is able to increase sexual activity not only in men, but also in women. In Ecuador, where bananas are brought to Russia, residents use it every day and prepare all kinds of dishes from it.
Do bananas grow in Russia?
In our country, bananas can be found not only in botanical gardens. A little south of the city of Sochi is growing the most northern banana of the Basio variety, or it is also called Japanese. It has edible fruits of red color, but, unfortunately, in our harsh conditions, they do not ripen. By winter, the green part of the grass dies, and by spring new ones are actively growing from the growth points, up to 2.5 meters long and 60 cm wide. 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 are bananas brought to Russia from, but also Crimea?
Banana dishes
This exotic fruit, it turned out, is not only eaten fresh. In countries where bananas are brought to Russia , it is fried, baked and dried. In addition, for the 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, a yo-yo dish is considered national - a soft cheese, fixed with a wooden stick between fried pieces of banana. And the inhabitants of the Philippines prepare ketchup from bananas with the addition of all kinds of spices.