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Now I'm really curious to taste banana wine. Banana is one of those flavors that some people love and some people really hate. Others in this category -- lutef

Now I'm really curious to taste banana wine. Banana is one of those flavors that some people love and some people really hate. Others in this category -- lutefisk, kimchi, certain cheeses -- make sense: their distinctive flavor is associated with decay. Why bananas, though? My grandfather was a banana hater. His observation on the topic: "I hate bananas, and I'm glad that I hate them, because if I liked them I'd eat them, and I HATE them!"

sram1337 2y ago
Bananas are a staple food crop in some parts of Africa. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matoke https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matoke
cmrdporcupine 2y ago
It took me until my 30s to make the connection that bananas cause me intense headaches. I used to love to eat them, but now won't touch them. I think I'm fine with them cooked, but not raw. I don't know the mechanism, but if you do searches on bananas and headaches you will find people prescribing them as a cure for headaches, not the other way around.
- btylke 2y ago
  It could be a latex allergy. Bananas are one of a few fruits that cause latex allergic reactions.
  - wileydragonfly 2y ago
    Kiwis. Avocado. Watermelon. Etc etc. the list is long.
    - cmrdporcupine 2y ago
      I have no problems with those, though. I do recognize the latex "feeling" and irritation, but avocados and kiwis are part of my regular yum-fest
interludead 2y ago
I'm also curious about banana wine… wonder if it leans more toward fresh banana or that overripe, almost fermented taste.
- dan353hehe 2y ago
  If I had to guess, it would be that fermenting bananas into wine makes them taste like they were fermented. In all seriousness though, I can’t stand overripe bananas. Bleah.
vgrafe 2y ago
I went a couple years ago in coutryside Rwanda, where locals brought me to a place where I could have some homemade banana wine, or "Urwagwa" (not sure about the spelling!). That place was someone's house with a few people hanging out and drinking, the wine was served in already-opened glass bottles. For those curious, it is not very boozy (maybe around 7%-10% abv), but very yeasty - to a point where it kinda numbed my mouth. For those curious the yeast is the dominant flavor, followed by banana. Very earthy taste. Later on I saw Urwagwa sold in a can at the airport, it was very different, no yeast but bitterness instead. I preferred the homemade one.

sram1337 2y ago

Bananas are a staple food crop in some parts of Africa. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matoke https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matoke

cmrdporcupine 2y ago

It took me until my 30s to make the connection that bananas cause me intense headaches. I used to love to eat them, but now won't touch them. I think I'm fine with them cooked, but not raw. I don't know the mechanism, but if you do searches on bananas and headaches you will find people prescribing them as a cure for headaches, not the other way around.

btylke 2y ago
It could be a latex allergy. Bananas are one of a few fruits that cause latex allergic reactions.
- wileydragonfly 2y ago
  Kiwis. Avocado. Watermelon. Etc etc. the list is long.
  - cmrdporcupine 2y ago
    I have no problems with those, though. I do recognize the latex "feeling" and irritation, but avocados and kiwis are part of my regular yum-fest

interludead 2y ago

I'm also curious about banana wine… wonder if it leans more toward fresh banana or that overripe, almost fermented taste.

dan353hehe 2y ago
If I had to guess, it would be that fermenting bananas into wine makes them taste like they were fermented. In all seriousness though, I can’t stand overripe bananas. Bleah.

vgrafe 2y ago

I went a couple years ago in coutryside Rwanda, where locals brought me to a place where I could have some homemade banana wine, or "Urwagwa" (not sure about the spelling!). That place was someone's house with a few people hanging out and drinking, the wine was served in already-opened glass bottles. For those curious, it is not very boozy (maybe around 7%-10% abv), but very yeasty - to a point where it kinda numbed my mouth. For those curious the yeast is the dominant flavor, followed by banana. Very earthy taste. Later on I saw Urwagwa sold in a can at the airport, it was very different, no yeast but bitterness instead. I preferred the homemade one.