Manzano

Manzano, also called the Apple banana or Latundan, is a short, plump dessert banana widely grown across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Philippines. The small fruit has a distinctive sweet-tart flavor with hints of apple and strawberry that emerges fully only when the skin ripens well past yellow to a speckled brown-black. Eaten too early, it can be astringent, but at peak ripeness it is soft, aromatic, and richly flavored. Manzano plants are moderately tall and productive in warm climates. Popular in tropical home gardens and ethnic markets, the Apple banana is cherished for its complex, fruity taste and remains a beloved regional favorite quite different from the simple sweetness of commercial Cavendish.