Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Artificial Banana Flavor
May 18, 2022
Discover why artificial banana flavor tastes nothing like the bananas we know today. Dive into the fascinating history of the Gros Michel banana and its fall from grace due to Panama disease. Learn how the now-extinct variety influenced the creation of artificial flavoring. Explore the origins of this unique flavor in 1912 New Jersey and the role of marketing in shaping our perceptions. Finally, uncover how cultural differences affect our taste preferences between bananas and pears in the US and UK.
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Listener Insight
- Listeners informed Josh and Chuck about the history of artificial banana flavor.
- They explained that it's based on a banana variety now extinct, the Gros Michel.
Gros Michel's Downfall
- The Gros Michel banana was popular until the 1950s.
- Panama disease, a fungal disease, wiped it out.
Cavendish Concerns
- The Cavendish banana replaced the Gros Michel because it resists Panama disease.
- However, the Cavendish is also vulnerable, being a monoculture.