INTRODUCTION
Banana is the most common and widely consumed fruit in the world. It possesses delicious sensory characteristics, nutritional and potential health benefits. Under the monetary value, banana ranked fourth among the world’s most important crops after rice, wheat and maize. Banana belongs to the herbaceous and perennial crop of the Musaceae family. Its leaves behave as a stem and because of this it also called a pseudo stem plant. Presently, Banana is cultivated in warm tropical area between 30 degree from both north and south of the equator.
Banana is an extensively cultivated plant in the world, mainly for its fruit. While harvesting plant for its fruit banana, other parts of plant like leaves, flowers, thrown as waste. These wastes turn in into lignocellulosic biomass. There would be 2 scenarios with lignocellulosic biomass, either it left on the ground or taken to open dump but in both cases the risk of transmission of disease and production of greenhouse gases are high.
To reduce the wastage we can use whole banana plant in many ways. The banana tree known as kalpavruksha, since ancient times; every part of the tree can be utilized for our benefit such as fruits are eaten, leaves are utilized as plates and, pseudostem and flower as functional food due to its high nutrient content.
The flower is widely known as Banana blossom or Banana heart. Banana blossom has the potential to be called as a super-food attributed by its high nutrient content such as fibre, protein, vitamin A,C and E, minerals like phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium and antioxidants.
This story is from the June 2020 edition of Food Marketing & Technology - India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2020 edition of Food Marketing & Technology - India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Is Food Waste Consuming Us? The Urgent Need for Change
Food waste is undeniably a global crisis that is not only consuming vast quantities of resources but also exacerbating environmental, economic, and social challenges.
Consolidated Competence for the Process Industry - Smart Solutions for Manufacturing Meat Substitutes and Confectionery
Strong Together: Coperion, Coperion K-Tron and Gabler Engineering at Interpack 2023
'Quality' - A Panacea To Boost To Health And The Economy
Quality is a paramount factor in today's fast-paced and competitive global marketplace.
How Conveyor Belts help a Baker's Vision
Baking as a process requires a degree of precision and consistency to produce high-quality goods. One of the ways to achieve this is by using a conveyor belt.
Summer Diet In Focus
Synopsis - Nuts and dry fruits are healthy and nutritious snack options that can be enjoyed in moderation during the summer season.
The Magic of Spices in Baking
Spices hold a rather special place in the world of baking. They not only help in infusing delightful flavours and captivating aromas but also add a magical kick to the creations. As a pastry chef, I love exploring the potential spices have to transform ordinary bakes into extraordinary delights.
The Challenges and Opportunities of Cheese Production
The dairy sector is at a crossroads. The current shifting consumer tastes, increasing demand for sustainability and price pressure is pushing dairies to consider changing mature and proven processes.
Importance of particle sizing in food industry
The Indian food market size is more than USD 300 Billion and growing with a CAGR of ~10%. Food analysis is one of the major concerns with a prerequisite for assuring the best product quality.
Value-Added Millets in the Food and Beverage Industry
Opportunities for Growth and Innovation
Seeds To Add In Your Daily Life
In this modern era of busy lifestyle, maintaining good physical and mental health is very challenging. Everyone is looking for ready to eat nutrient rich food items. Nowadays, the attention of nutrient dense food is gained by oil seeds because of their positive impact on health promotion and disease prevention.