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At some point, you may have came across headlines such as:
- Your Favorite Bananas Are Rapidly Going Extinct
- The imminent death of the Cavendish banana
- THE BANANA APOCALYPSE IS NEAR
And it’s true: the Cavendish (the dominant subgroup of commercial bananas) is currently suffering a similar fate to the one the OG Gros Michel also faced.
Enter the Goldfinger Banana. Despite having the same name as a James Bond villain, the Goldfinger Banana has the potential to do a lot of great things.
That’s because the Goldfinger, originally named the FHIA-01, was developed by the Honduran Agricultural Research Foundation (FHIA) back in 1998. It is actually resistant to the strain of disease impacting current commercial Cavendish production.
In fact, I personally believe that the Goldfinger is the strongest current contender to replace the Cavendish.
With that being said, this grow guide will cover everything you need to know about the Goldfinger Banana:
Table of Contents
- Goldfinger Banana Tree Characteristics & Fruit Production
- Goldfinger Banana Flavor Profile
- Goldfinger Banana Disease Resistance
- Goldfinger Banana Tree For Sale (Where To Find)
- Conclusion
Goldfinger Banana Tree Characteristics & Fruit Production
Image Credit: Dave Lochridge
Goldfinger Bananas are small to medium-sized banana trees that usually average between 8 – 12 feet tall. As a result, Goldfinger would not do well long-term in containers and would NOT be considered a “condo” banana.
Furthermore, I would definitely classify the Goldfinger as a vigorous grower, as far as bananas go.
Due to their extremely stout and strong pseudostem, Goldfinger Bananas can tolerate mild to moderate winds.
However, it’s still best to avoid planting them in areas with frequent or extreme winds, as their large, broad leaves are still prone to shredding in the event of strong gusts.
Additionally, for those curious about whether this cultivar needs to be propped, the only time I’ve seen Goldfingers needing to be propped is when the trees have large racks (more on fruit production soon!).
The Goldfinger is a Musa acuminata x balbisiana hybrid and features a Tetraploid (AABB) genome. Other tetraploid (AABB) banana cultivars include, but are not limited to:
- FHIA-02 ‘Mona Lisa’
- FHIA-03 ‘Sweetheart’
- FHIA-17
- FHIA-21
Why does banana chromosomal count even matter? Glad you asked! 😜
In layman’s terms, the sweetness and softness of a banana’s texture increase with a higher concentration of ‘A’ chromosomes inherited from Musa acuminata. Conversely, a greater proportion of ‘B’ chromosomes from Musa balbisiana enhances the banana’s resilience, improving its cold tolerance and resistance to diseases.
And the focus of the FHIA’s banana breeding program was to create new cultivars with the following characteristics:
- Increased Disease Resistance (B)
- Increased Yields (B)
- Acceptable Flavor (A)
The Goldfinger Banana’s ‘A’ chromosomes contribute to its familiar Cavendish flavor—but more on that shortly! 😉
Meanwhile, the high concentration of ‘B’ chromosomes gives the Goldfinger Banana excellent tolerance to environmental stressors, including both drought and windy conditions, as well as excellent cold hardiness.
Much like the other FHIA hybrids, such as Mona Lisa and Sweetheart, the Goldfinger Banana is an absolute tank of a banana tree.
And while you can’t grow the Goldfinger everywhere, its compactness, vigor, sturdiness, and hardiness make it an excellent candidate for those who are just out of reach of the perfect conditions for other banana cultivars.
Finally, I have observed that the Goldfinger Banana is definitely a more precocious variety that will fruit much faster than other popular varieties, such as the Mysore or Nam Wah.
When grown under optimal conditions, the Goldfinger Banana’s fruit production is good to heavy. I’ve seen racks range between 30 – 100 lbs in total weight.
At the end of the day, from a tree characteristics and fruit production perspective, I have nothing negative to say. I honestly feel comfortable saying that the Goldfinger is a bulletproof banana in those regards.
Goldfinger Banana Flavor Profile
Goldfinger Bananas are about 6-8 inches long, give or take, making them very similar in size to your typical supermarket Cavendish.
That said, keep in mind that the skin is noticeably thinner, which makes peeling easy but also makes the stem, or “neck,” area a bit more fragile. Once these bananas start to yellow, the stem can easily crack open or get damaged—so handle them gently!
When it comes to ripeness, I have also found that waiting 1-3 days after the peel turns fully yellow is when the fruit is at its peak ripeness. Ideally, look for a few brown spots and a richer golden tone—that’s when they’re prime.
Oh, and don’t ignore your nose—these bananas give off a lovely sweet, citrusy fragrance as they ripen, which is a good clue that they’re ready to eat.
At their peak ripeness, they’ll be slightly firmer than a Cavendish, so don’t let that throw you off!
Speaking of texture, I would describe the Goldfinger as creamy and a little less dense than what you’d get from a Cavendish. It’s soft without being overly fluffy or airy, so it feels substantial but still light enough to enjoy without feeling heavy. It’s a nice middle ground if you find Cavendish a bit too dense or Ice Cream Bananas too airy.
From a flavor perspective, think Cavendish, but slightly better.
The Goldfinger is slightly sweeter than Cavendish, but with a subtle tanginess that reminds me of Mysore, though not as intense. If you could imagine blending the familiar sweetness of Cavendish with a hint of tart strawberry, you’d have a good idea of what Goldfinger tastes like.
At peak ripeness, the sugar and acidity are perfectly balanced, giving you that “just right” combination of sweetness with a tropical zing. There’s even a floral aftertaste that is reminiscent of Mona Lisa Bananas.
Relative to other bananas that I’ve sampled, Goldfinger reminds me a lot of Dwarf Brazilian, Raja Puri, and Sweetheart.
On the other hand, if you eat one with a touch of green still on the peel, get ready for some extra tartness—it’s sharper when underripe but mellows out as the banana fully ripens.
Overall, Goldfinger’s flavor is smooth and versatile, making it a great choice for either eating fresh or adding to smoothies (my favorite way to enjoy them). I personally love how the Goldfinger’s tangy-sweet flavor adds a little extra ‘oomph’ to my smoothies without being overpowering.
What’s interesting to me is that timing really is everything with the Goldfinger. Eat it too early, and you might wonder what all the fuss is about. But when eaten at the perfect stage, the flavor transformation really is dramatic—it goes from “meh” to “this is actually pretty good.”
That said, in my opinion, is Goldfinger the absolute best banana you’ll ever taste? No.
However, I still think Goldfinger is definitely worth growing, especially for those who enjoy Cavendish Bananas but want something a little different with better disease resistance. Overall, I would classify the Goldfinger as an ‘Improved Cavendish,’ making it a solid choice for anyone seeking that familiar flavor with a tropical twist.
Goldfinger Banana Disease Resistance
Due to its tetraploid (AABB) genome structure, the Goldfinger Banana boasts excellent disease resistance.
More specifically, Goldfinger exhibits strong resistance to both Panama Disease and Sigatoka Disease.
As a result, the Goldfinger Banana makes an excellent choice for those in areas with high disease pressure.
Goldfinger Banana Tree For Sale (Where To Find)
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Conclusion
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Thank you for reading! 🙂
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