Bananas are perhaps the most popular tropical fruit. They are rich in carbohydrate, mineral, A, B, and C vitamins.

        There are about 300 varieties of banana in the world. About 20 of them are in Thailand. The smallest one is “Kluai Leb Mue Nang” or "finger banana".

        The most famous one is “Kluai Hom”, the large specimens with thick golden skins. Bananas are useful. When young and green, they may be eaten raw as a vegetable with a spicy Thai sauce.

        More developed bananas are sliced and dried in the sun, fried or grilled for a snack. Ripe bananas are sweet and fragrant and nice for eating fresh.

        Overripe bananas are conserved or used for bakery. Popular Thai banana menus are Kluai Ping (grilled and soaked with syrup), Kluai Buat Chi (boiled in coconut milk), Kluai Chuam (boiled in syrup), Kluai Phao (smoked in the peel), kluai khaek (golden fritters).