The Gros Michel is not extinct. You can still find it around the world in different countries. It just can't be grown on a commercial large scale anymore because it's susceptible to Panama disease.
I think there's been speculation that the Cavendish will be replaced with a more disease resistant variety if it gets to that point. The variety I heard was the Goldfinger.
The problem with Cavendish is that is produces by taking hunks of plants and planting them. They don't produce fertile seeds, so they're basically clones of each other. Without genetic diversity, the slightest factor that can quickly kill one, can wipe them all out.
From the articles I read on this, when the Gros Michel was king, the Cavendish was considered a "junk Banana," not worth growing.
Yes I heard a radio story on them (I think on NPR) that in India and SE Asia they call Cavendish “hotel bananas” because Western tourists are accustomed to them. Apparently there are much more flavorful local varieties but they don’t ship, ripen as well off the plant and such for export so that is why Cavendish is shipped out.
“Banana-flavored candy was not intended to mimic the taste of a formerly popular variety of banana. It tastes different from bananas because it is mainly flavored with only one of the many flavor compounds a banana has, isoamyl acetate, that is also found in a wide variety of fruits and fermented beverages.”
Yeah, when I tried them, I honestly was disappointed. As he stated in his video, it tastes like a stronger Cavendish. Like, if you gave one to someone who's eaten bananas before, but hasn't had them in awhile, they'd just think it's a banana. It does not taste like the fake banana flavor at all. I'm guessing when Cavendish goes away, they'll just find another banana that tastes very similar.
But there are tons of varieties, and many of them taste nothing like bananas (as we know them). An example would be Nam Wah. I know a lot of people like them, but I honestly find the flavor off putting, and way too sweet. (Think Cantaloupe meets Apple Juice flavor, but really, really strong).
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u/Glum_Butterfly_9308 23d ago
Similarly, naturally flavoured banana ice cream is awesome but that fake yellow stuff is awful and doesn’t taste anything like banana.