Bye-bye banana

[Halb]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35131751

I wanna taste that one from the 50s now.

[mcflurry]

Halb said:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35131751

I wanna taste that one from the 50s now.

AFAIK many banana flavours are based on the Big Mike, rather than the Cavendish such as (IIRC) the McDonald's milkshake

[Some Gump]

I seem to remember that Nerds banana flavour was based on the Gros something, which was the "de facto" banana back when we had no bananas. I think it explains why some sweets / Nesquick taste northing like proper bananas, but are banana flavoured (and all the same).

[Halb]

That's interesting. I sometimes wonder why banana flavoured stuff doesn't really taste like banana but is it's own thing. But then I think that about strawberry flavour as well.

[Simpo Two]

It may be the price paid for a monoculture. If there were many banana varieties, like apples, then damage would be limited.


Time for some genetic engineering perhaps.

[2fast748]

mcflurry said:

AFAIK many banana flavours are based on the Big Mike, rather than the Cavendish such as (IIRC) the McDonald's milkshake

Halb said:

That's interesting. I sometimes wonder why banana flavoured stuff doesn't really taste like banana but is it's own thing. But then I think that about strawberry flavour as well.

In my experience McDonald's strawberry milkshakes taste like banana!

And no strawberry tastes like anything strawberry flavoured.

[Nimby]

Some Gump said:

I seem to remember that Nerds banana flavour was based on the Gros something, which was the "de facto" banana back when we had no bananas. I think it explains why some sweets / Nesquick taste northing like proper bananas, but are banana flavoured (and all the same).

Something labelled "banana flavoured" has to contain real banana, but something labelled "banana flavour" need only contain the simple ester amyl acetate.

[Simpo Two]

Nimby said:

Something labelled "banana flavoured" has to contain real banana, but something labelled "banana flavour" need only contain the simple ester amyl acetate.

I thought amyl acetate was pear drops?

IIRC most fruit flavours/smells are from esters; the corridor outside the organic chemistry lab always smelled vaguely of apples...

[Nimby]

Simpo Two said:

I thought amyl acetate was pear drops?

IIRC most fruit flavours/smells are from esters; the corridor outside the organic chemistry lab always smelled vaguely of apples...

It's described as smelling like banana or pear - possibly depending on concentration and whether the carbon chain is branched or straight. Most esters smell fruity but ISTR some can be quite medicinal like "Deep Heat" or "Vick".

edit: Should have checked: list here

Edited by Nimby on Friday 29th January 13:31

[stew-S160]

Anyone know what Bananaman tastes like?

[Simpo Two]

Nimby said:

edit: Should have checked: list here

Aha, pear drops is ISOamyl acetate. Seems to be C5 as opposed to C7. Ta!

[xjay1337]

2fast748 said:

And no strawberry tastes like anything strawberry flavoured.

Aside from strawberry fruit corner!

[Some Gump]

Simpo Two said:

Aha, pear drops is ISOamyl acetate. Seems to be C5 as opposed to C7. Ta!

My chemistry tuto used to have a wall poster which showed the various fruit flavours. It's long ago enough that I can't remember the details, but pear drops, banana, menthol, eucalyptus pineapple and something else were all side by side and either isomers of similar gear, or chiral pairs. Sadly, Google can't show me the poster

[MrCarPark]

[mcflurry]

2fast748 said:

And no strawberry tastes like anything strawberry flavoured.

Apparently, Strawberry flavour has 59 ingredients, not including strawberries.

http://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/apr/24/food.f...
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/59-ingredient...
http://www.unbelievable-facts.com/2014/09/fast-foo...

[Ayahuasca]

Once while trekking through some rain-forest I found a 'wild' banana plant (must have been from a long abandoned banana plantation). I peeled one and bit into it. It was inedible - full of massive huge seeds. Give me artificial ones any day.

[Beati Dogu]

They have some different banana varieties in the Eden Project in Cornwall. It's most odd seeing purple bananas.

Apparently monkeys open bananas a different way to most of us. We usually pull back on the stalk to start peeling them open. Monkeys hold them by the stalk, pinch the tip in their fingers, then peel them from there.

I've tried this and I think the human way is best.

Edited by Beati Dogu on Sunday 14th February 19:58