Necessity is the mother of invention, and it was mothers who got banana powder on the drawing board.
Banana powder was first formulated in the West Indies in the early 1900s. There, mothers depended on bananas to feed their babies, but bananas could spoil quickly in the perennially warm climate. To solve this problem, someone figured out how to thinly slice and sun-dry bananas, pulverize them into powder and mix them into baby food.
West Indies banana powder was an instant smash: It had a 1-year shelf life, which greatly extended use of bananas in that balmy region. Banana powder was marketed as “health food for children and the elderly.” It was soon found to help with indigestion and was used as a revitalizing supplement to boost mental acuity and physical activity among older and inactive persons.
Today, banana powder adds flavor to smoothies, shakes and other beverages, as well as cereals, fruit compotes, snacks and foods. Bananas are a “super food” with many health benefits, most notably ulcer prevention in addition to relieving indigestion. Today’s banana powders are technologically dried (eg, freeze-dried) to retain as much of the original fruit’s nutritional value as possible.
Much research supports use of banana powder in small amounts to improve overall health. Expect to see banana powder in an increasingly diverse range of products because of its health benefits and ease of use.
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