Plantain, Plantago major, was considered to be one of the nine sacred herbs by the ancient Saxon people, and has been celebrated in Anglo-Saxon poetry as the “mother of herbs.” There are more than 200 species of plantain and nearly as many recorded uses for this humble herb.
How many different types of plantain is there?
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. The French plantains also occur in Indonesia and the islands of the Pacific.
What are the different types of plantain?
Two types dominate the market: French or Horn, each with a number of varieties. French types, also sometimes called Hembra, include Dwarf (and semi-dwarf), Medium, and Great; Horn varieties include French Horn and are referred to as either False (also called Macho in Central America) or True types.
How many types of plantain do we have in Nigeria?
four main types
In Nigeria, four main types of plantain are available with distribution strictly based on their bunch characteristics. These are; the horn type, French type, false type and false horn type. The false horn type is the most widely distrib- uted because of its ability to tolerate poor soil conditions.
Which plantain is the best?
A ripe plantain is best when it’s mostly black with a little yellow, and still slightly firm to the touch, like when you squeeze a peach. Although completely black plantains are still good to eat, they are a little too soft, making them difficult to prepare.
Are green and yellow plantains the same?
When shopping, you may come across both green and yellow plantains. They are the same fruit, but the color of the skin indicates the plantain’s ripeness. At its peak of ripeness, a plantain’s skin will be dull yellow with black patches, or completely black.
Which plantains are sweet yellow or green?
There are differences between yellow and green plantains when it comes to taste, texture, their nutritional profile and how they are used. Yellow plantain has a sweeter taste than green plantain which tastes more like potatoes. Green plantains are starchier and are more firm; therefore they are more difficult to peel.
Is plantain a vegetable or a fruit?
fruits
Bananas and plantains are both fruits that come from the same family of plants. Though they look alike, they have very different flavor profiles.
What is the difference between ripe and unripe plantain?
As they ripen, they start to yellow, then get dark brown spots and eventually turn black before spoiling. 2. Texture: Green plantains are tough, similar to a root vegetable. Ripe plantains are mushier, and those with a darker peel may not hold their shape when fried.
How many months does it take a plantain to mature?
Plantain takes about 8 months to start to yield and about 3 months to mature. That’s to say, it takes about a year to have the first harvest from the planting date.
Which country has the best plantain?
Plantains are usually cooked, roasted, boiled, and steamed either when green or very ripe.
The World’s Leading Plantain Producers.
| Rank | Country | Plantain Production (Millions of Tonnes) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameroon | 4.31 |
| 2 | Ghana | 3.95 |
| 3 | Uganda | 3.71 |
| 4 | Colombia | 3.54 |
What does unripe plantain does to the body?
It has been observed that unripe plantain contains antioxidant compounds that help prevent diseases and provides vitamins. It generates a slow release of glucose and may help prevent colon cancer and constipation, while lowers cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
How long does it take plantains to turn black?
Fully ripe are yellow and then black, getting softer and sweeter as they darken. If you buy them green, they will take about a week to start to change colors. It will take another three days to turn yellow green and another two or three days to change to the final yellow and black.
Can you eat a green plantain?
Taste? Green plantains taste a little like a potato but are starchier in texture, and can be fried along with a yam or even a sweet potato. When they are green you can do the same with them as you can with a potato in terms of cooking them. As they ripen, they get sweeter.
What color is ripe plantain?
As plantains ripen, they turn yellow, then develop some brown spots, and eventually (really, this can take weeks) reach peak ripeness, at which point they’re very dark brown, nearly black.
Which is healthier banana or plantain?
They are both healthy sources of complex carbohydrates. Plantains contain roughly 32 grams of carbs per 100-gram serving, while bananas contain about 23 grams.
They’re both very nutritious.
| Bananas | Plantains | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 89 | 122 |
| Carbs | 23 grams | 32 grams |
| Fiber | 3 grams | 2 grams |
| Potassium | 358 mg | 487 mg |
Can diabetics eat plantains?
Health Benefits of Plantains
Diabetes: In Nigeria, people use plantains as a natural way to manage diabetes. Some studies show they may have a hypoglycemic effect, or help control blood sugar levels, especially unripe plantains. The fiber in plantains could help your blood sugar levels stay steady longer.
What does plantain give to the body?
Plantains are a carb-rich food and a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They also contain antioxidants that fight free radicals. With good levels of vitamin C, they can also support immune function. Likewise, their vitamin B6 content may reduce cardiovascular risk and improve mood.
What does English plantain look like?
There are 3-5 parallel veins along the length of each leaf. The leaves are gray-green to green and glabrous to sparsely hairy; there are usually a few hairs along the central vein on the underside of each leaf. The slender flowering stalks are devoid of leaves and about 6-18″ tall.
Are all types of plantain edible?
There are over 200 species of plantain within the genus Plantago, and, as far as I know, all are edible.
Can you smoke plantain leaves?
Can you smoke plantain leaves? The North American wild herb, plantain (Plantago major), helps reduce cravings for cigarettes. That could be one of the main reasons it is being used in many commercial smoking cessation products. For long-term storage, use fresh or dry leaves to create an infused herbal oil.
Gerardo Gonzalez loves cooking. He became interested in it at a young age, and has been honing his skills ever since. He enjoys experimenting with new recipes, and is always looking for ways to improve his technique.
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