What Is So Special About the Nendran Banana?

November 7, 2025 •

4 min read

The Nendran banana, a revered cultivar native to Kerala, India, stands out from other bananas due to its unique dual-purpose nature, allowing it to be enjoyed both raw and cooked depending on its stage of ripeness. Its robust flavor, firm texture, and significant health benefits make it a prized ingredient in South Indian cuisine.

Quick Summary

The Nendran banana is a prized South Indian variety, recognized for its large size, dense texture, and culinary versatility, which includes being prepared as savory or sweet dishes. It is also known for its superior nutritional value, including being a rich source of resistant starch and fiber.

Key Points

Dual-Purpose Fruit: Nendran is used for both cooking when green and eating fresh when fully ripe, making it highly versatile.
Rich in Resistant Starch: The unripe banana is a potent prebiotic source, feeding good gut bacteria and improving digestive health.
Culinary Icon: It is the key ingredient for traditional Kerala snacks like crunchy banana chips and sweet fritters.
Superior Nutritional Profile: Contains high levels of potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin B6.
Authentic Kerala Variety: Especially the Changalikodan Nendran, which has Geographical Indication status and cultural significance.
Supports Baby Nutrition: Raw Nendran banana powder is widely used as a natural, easily digestible baby food for healthy weight gain.
Distinct Texture and Flavor: Its dense, firm flesh and earthy, mildly sweet taste offer a different culinary experience from common bananas.

The Unique Characteristics of Nendran Bananas

Unlike the more common Cavendish variety, the Nendran banana possesses several distinctive features that set it apart. It is notably larger and denser, with an elongated shape and thicker, tougher skin. Its firm flesh and unique flavor profile change dramatically throughout the ripening process, making it suitable for a wide range of culinary applications. When unripe and green, the flesh is starchy and subtle, ideal for savory preparations. As it matures and its skin darkens to yellow, then brown or black, the fruit becomes softer, sweeter, and tangier, perfect for fresh eating or desserts. Traditional organic cultivation methods in its native Kerala, where bunches are wrapped in leaves, also contribute to its distinct flavor and appearance.

Culinary Versatility: From Savory to Sweet

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Nendran banana is its versatility in the kitchen. It is considered a dual-purpose fruit and is a cornerstone of Kerala's rich culinary traditions.

Crispy Banana Chips: Thinly sliced, unripe Nendran bananas are famously deep-fried in coconut oil to create the authentic, crunchy Kerala banana chips, or upperi.
Sweet Fritters (Pazhampori): When fully ripe, the soft, sweet flesh is coated in a flour batter and deep-fried to create these irresistible, melt-in-your-mouth fritters.
Wholesome Baby Food: Raw Nendran banana powder, made from sun-dried green bananas, is a time-honored food for infants, known for its digestibility and ability to promote healthy weight gain.
Nutritious Porridge: The banana powder is also used to make a nutritious porridge for all ages, often mixed with milk or water for a natural energy boost.
Traditional Desserts: Overripe Nendran bananas are used in various traditional sweets and puddings, where their rich sweetness is highlighted, such as the steamed banana preparation known as Nendrapazham puzhungiyathu.
Curries and Side Dishes: Unripe bananas are also incorporated into savory curries and side dishes in South Indian meals, where their starchy texture provides substance.

Nutritional Profile and Health Benefits

Beyond its culinary uses, the Nendran banana is a nutritional powerhouse, offering several key health benefits. It is rich in essential nutrients and contains unique compounds that aid overall wellness.

High in Resistant Starch: When unripe, Nendran bananas contain high levels of resistant starch, a prebiotic that resists digestion in the small intestine. This starch ferments in the colon, feeding beneficial gut bacteria and improving digestive health.
Packed with Vitamins and Minerals: Nendran bananas are a good source of potassium, which is crucial for maintaining healthy blood pressure and heart function. They also contain significant amounts of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and magnesium.
Manages Blood Sugar: The low glycemic index of Nendran bananas, especially when unripe, means they cause a slower rise in blood sugar levels, making them a suitable option for those managing diabetes.
Supports Digestive Health: The high fiber content aids digestion, prevents constipation, and can help maintain a healthy gut microbiome.
Boosts Immunity: The presence of antioxidants and vitamin C helps strengthen the immune system and protect the body from free radical damage.

Nendran vs. Common Cavendish: A Comparison

To truly understand what makes the Nendran special, a comparison with the most widely available banana, the Cavendish, is helpful.


Feature	Nendran Banana	Cavendish Banana
Appearance	Larger, thicker skin, elongated, angular edges.	Smaller, thinner skin, classic curved shape.
Texture	Dense, firm, becomes creamy when very ripe.	Soft and creamy throughout ripening process.
Flavor	Starchy and subtle (unripe); mildly sweet, rich, and earthy (ripe).	Sweet, mild, and creamy taste.
Primary Use	Dual-purpose: Cooking (unripe) and eating (ripe).	Primarily fresh eating (dessert banana).
Resistant Starch	High content when unripe, excellent prebiotic source.	Lower resistant starch, fewer prebiotic benefits.
Cultural Value	Integral to Kerala's cuisine and festivals, including Onam.	Staple commercial product worldwide.

The Cultural Significance in Kerala

Beyond its delicious taste and nutritional value, the Nendran banana, especially the famed Changalikodan variety, holds deep cultural significance in the state of Kerala. The Changalikodan, which received Geographical Indication (GI) status in 2015, is an integral part of the Hindu harvest festival of Onam. Bunches of this particular variety are offered to the Guruvayur Temple, a tradition known as kazhchakula samarpanam. Its traditional, organic cultivation and importance in ceremonial meals underscore its treasured status.

Conclusion: The Nendran Advantage

In conclusion, what is special about the Nendran banana is its multifaceted nature as both a culinary superstar and a nutritional powerhouse. Its firm, starchy texture when unripe makes it an ideal plantain for savory dishes and crunchy chips, while its transformation into a sweet, creamy fruit when ripe offers a delectable dessert experience. More than just a versatile fruit, it provides superior health benefits, particularly a high concentration of resistant starch that promotes gut health. Whether enjoyed as a savory snack, a sweet fritter, or a nutritional supplement in powder form, the Nendran banana's unique qualities truly set it apart as a fruit of tradition, flavor, and immense value.

International Journal of Horticulture and Food Science

Frequently Asked Questions

The flavor of a Nendran banana depends on its ripeness. When unripe and green, it has a starchy, subtle taste similar to a plantain. When fully ripe with a dark, almost black skin, it develops a sweeter, richer, and more mildly tangy flavor, making it suitable for desserts and fresh eating.

Yes, Nendran bananas are highly nutritious. They are a good source of dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. When raw, they are especially high in resistant starch, a prebiotic that supports digestive health and gut flora.

You can eat a Nendran banana raw, but only when it is fully ripe. When unripe and green, its high starch content and firm texture mean it is best suited for cooking. A ripe Nendran will have soft flesh and a sweeter taste, even if the skin appears black.

Compared to a common Cavendish banana, the Nendran variety is larger, has a tougher skin, and features a denser, firmer texture. It is more culinarily versatile, suitable for both cooked and fresh preparations, and contains more resistant starch when unripe.

Unripe Nendran bananas are excellent for savory cooking. They are famously used to make thinly sliced and deep-fried banana chips. They can also be incorporated into curries or ground into a powder to make baby food and porridge.

Nendran banana powder is made from raw, sun-dried Nendran bananas that are ground into a fine flour. It is valued as a gluten-free, easily digestible food, often used for infants and as a nutritional supplement for adults for its prebiotic and gut health benefits.

The Nendran banana is primarily cultivated in South India, with the state of Kerala being the most well-known region for its production. The Changalikodan variety, a type of Nendran, has even received special Geographical Indication status.

Because of its high fiber content and resistant starch, Nendran bananas can be a good option for weight management. These components help you feel full for longer periods, reducing the chances of snacking between meals.