Question

Which of the following varieties of banana belong to culinary group?

• A. Robusta
• B. Rasthali and Monthan
• C. Poovan and Robusta
• D. Monthan

Hint:

Monthan is the absolute benchmark variety for cooking bananas in India.
Nendran is another famous cooking banana variety.
All other options contain dessert bananas like Robusta, Poovan, or Rasthali.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Banana (Musa species) varieties are divided into two primary economic groups based on consumption:
1. Dessert varieties: Eaten fresh when ripe.
2. Culinary/Cooking varieties (plantains): Starchy bananas cooked before consumption.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us examine the primary classification of the given varieties:
Robusta, Poovan, and Rasthali are classic dessert varieties grown extensively across India.
They are sweet, low in starch when ripe, and consumed directly.
Monthan is a prominent cooking banana (culinary) clone of India.
It is highly rich in starch, has a thick green peel, and is used for preparing curries, chips, and various savory items.
Therefore, Monthan is a culinary banana variety.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The variety of banana belonging to the culinary group is Monthan.