Haskap variety 1 of 11
Blue Banana
Get to know this variety and where it fits in the usual ripening order at Camerise St-Gabriel.
Usual ripening order at our orchard: 1 of 11
Five quick facts
- Usual period
- Early season
- Flavour
- Distinctive aroma, apple- or banana-like depending on the taster
- Texture
- Very tender when fully ripe
- Best use
- Best eaten fresh, soon after picking
- Picking
- Easy to detach; use a small container and gentle handling
Elongated berries described as sweet by a supplier. Their shape resembles a small banana.
The orchard has confirmed the name Blue Banana. In our usual order, it is the first variety to ripen.
For the start of the season, check the pick-your-own status. The first variety to ripen does not mean every row is open.
GROWN AND OBSERVED HERE
What we observe at Camerise St-Gabriel
These practical notes come from our own plants, harvests and visitor experience. They can vary with ripeness, weather and the season.
- It is currently the first of our 11 varieties to ripen. Its berries are elongated, very tender when fully ripe, and melt easily in the mouth.
- Its aroma stands apart from our other varieties: some people notice an apple-like note, while others are reminded of banana. This comparison remains a tasting impression.
- The berry detaches fairly easily, but its delicate flesh and skin call for gentle picking. For a long drive, we recommend small, lightly filled containers to limit crushing.
- Mature plants are generally at a comfortable height for picking while standing.
Published descriptions and background
Origin and identity
Blue Banana is one of the Berries Unlimited selections. Its name comes from its long, slightly curved berries. Camerise St-Gabriel has confirmed that Blue Banana is the variety grown here.
Taste and texture
The supplier describes it as sweet and juicy. That is a published description, not yet a measured tasting note from our orchard. Perceived sweetness can change with ripeness and the season.
Fruit and picking
Its long shape helps distinguish it from many more oval haskaps. It comes first in our usual order, but colour alone does not show that a berry is ready. No strong published trial measures how easy it is to pick by hand.
Fresh or prepared
Its published profile makes it interesting to try fresh. Like other haskaps, it can also be cooked; however, we do not have a reliable comparison showing that it is the best choice for a particular recipe.
What we will continue to observe here
To document at our orchard: when its flavour is at its best, its actual sweetness compared with Aurora, and how well ripe berries remain on the plant.
The ripening order comes from our orchard observations. Varieties may overlap, and weather changes timing, flavour and berry size. Published measurements come from other growing sites and do not indicate what can be picked today.
Sources and context
Published fruit descriptions come from the sources below; they are not measurements made at our orchard. The usual ripening position is our own observation.