Banana – kluay nam wah

Description

The most common variety of banana in Thailand is ‘kluay nam wah’ – they are a very nice variety, distinct for their sweet flavour and plump, firm, moist flesh.

It’s a smaller banana compared to the cavendish variety (which is commonly available in the UK) They are short and plump, about 3 to 4 inches in length and about an inch in diameter. Each hand has between 10-15 bananas. The flesh is soft yet firmer than that of the cavendish, moist, off-white and has tiny edible seeds.

It’s often grown around people’s houses because of its usefulness: the leaves are used as a wrap for food, the flowers and fruit are eaten and part of the trunk is eaten or used as animal feed.