Chenkadali, also known as Rakthakadali or Kappapazham in Malayalam is a delicious banana with medicinal properties.

Among the several varieties of banana grown at Sharanyam, Red Banana occupies a special place on the taste buds of our guests, not just as an attractive, mouthwatering fruit, but as a delectable vegetable as well.

Unlike the green Robusta varieties which are bitter until ripe, almost every part of the plant – the flower cone, the thick pure white pith, as well as the mature banana itself – is sweet and edible.

The raw bananas are used to make delicious stir-fries, curries, and bajjis (deep fried spicy tempura). The pith is used to make salads, upkaris, and gojjus (Konkani dishes). Its raw juice is drunk to cure stomach ulcers. The flower pod makes the sweetest and softest toran (Kerala cooked stir fry with coconut), softer than even the Nendran.

We also make delicious Vadas and cutlets with the flower cones to the delight of children and adults alike. The leaves are huge and thick and are excellent for serving elaborate traditional feasts. It is believed that eating hot rice off a banana leaf is great for good eyesight. Truly a must for your garden!