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Also known as Platano Higo or “fig plantains” in the Philippines, the Pitogo Banana is a rare variety of banana that is not only a total conversation starter but is also a very special treat.
Unlike the Humungous Hua Moa, the Pitogo is quite literally a bite-sized dessert banana with a unique and delicious flavor profile that is hard not to fall in love with! 😍
They are also absolutely perfect for making chocolate-covered frozen bananas 🤤
With that being said, this grow guide will cover everything you need to know about the Pitogo Banana:
Table of Contents
- Pitogo Banana Tree Characteristics & Fruit Production
- Pitogo Banana Flavor Profile
- Pitogo Banana Disease Resistance
- Pitogo Banana Tree For Sale (Where To Find)
- Conclusion
Pitogo Banana Tree Characteristics & Fruit Production
Pitogo Bananas are small to medium-sized banana trees that usually average between 8 – 12 feet tall.
That said, when grown in unideal soil conditions (think sandy soil) I have seen some Pitogo Banana Trees peak out around the 6 – 8 feet tall mark. Even so, the Pitogo would not do well long-term in containers and would NOT be considered a “condo” banana.
And while the Pitogo doesn’t sport a beautiful reddish pseudostem like the Mona Lisa or Mysore, the Pitogo’s distinctly wide and long leaves, similar to the Praying Hands, are very ornamental can easily give any space tropical vibes ☀️
Speaking of the pseudostem, the Pitogo Banana’s pseudostem is notably compact and sturdy. As a result, Pitogo Bananas can tolerate mild to moderate winds.
However, I would still highly recommend avoiding planting them in areas with frequent or extreme winds, as their large, broad leaves are still prone to shredding in strong gusts.
The Pitogo is a Musa acuminata x balbisiana hybrid and features a Triploid (ABB) genome. Other triploid (ABB) banana cultivars include, but are not limited to:
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.
What I find particularly interesting is that despite having a lower concentration of ‘A’ chromosomes, the Pitogo is an extremely delicious dessert banana (more on that shortly!).
Fun Fact: The Nam Wah is very similar in this regard (lower concentration of A chromosomes) but also still a great dessert banana!
Meanwhile, the higher concentration of ‘B’ chromosomes gives the Pitogo Banana greater tolerance to environmental stressors, including both drought and windy conditions.
Finally, when grown under optimal conditions, the Pitogo Banana’s fruit production is fair to average.
This is one of the few downsides of the Pitogo; I wish it produced much larger bunches! So to really maximize your production, make sure you are feeding them with plenty of compost!
Pitogo Banana Flavor Profile
The Pitogo Banana definitely has a very unusual shape.
It’s definitely one of the most interesting-looking bananas that I’ve ever come across. I totally think that the ‘fig plantain’ nickname that they have in the Philippines is very appropriate because Pitogos look like a very fat and round fig versus our idea of what a ‘standard banana’ looks like.
Speaking of size, Pitogo Bananas are about the size of a golf ball, but depending on how much nutrition the trees receive, they can sometimes get just a touch bigger. These bananas have a thick, smooth skin with a slightly waxy feel.
I have found that Pitogos are at their peak flavor when they’re fully ripe, aka they are soft to the touch and easy to peel, with some brown speckling developing on the yellow skin. If you eat them too early, the flavor is more on the mild side, but when they’re at their peak, that’s when they really shine (more on that in a moment).
The texture is one of my favorite things about the Pitogo Banana. The flesh is fairly dense, though not as dense as a plantain, with a pale yellow to ivory color, and is also way creamier than most other dessert bananas. Each bite is thick, smooth, and almost buttery 🤤
So, if you like bananas with a rich, creamy texture, you will fall in love with the Pitogo.
Now, the flavor, in my opinion, is where Pitogo Banana really begins to stand out 🤩
The riper they get, the more intense and developed the banana flavor becomes. At peak ripeness, they have that strong, classic banana taste—on par with Gros Michel—but with a unique twist. There’s a noticeable tanginess, almost like a tart strawberry or blueberry, with just the faintest hint of lemon.
That bright, tropical sweet-tart balance is very similar to the flavor profile of Praying Hands and Saba Bananas.
Additionally, I feel like Pitogos are also definitely on the sweeter side. However, that extra touch of acidity and tartness gives them a nice depth of flavor that keeps them from being just ‘sugar bombs,’ which I personally appreciate 😋
In my opinion, Pitogos are best enjoyed fresh, straight out of the peel. Though, if I’m not eating them out of hand, I love tossing them into smoothies, blending them into banana ice cream, or freezing them and drizzling them with chocolate—seriously, you have to try that last one 😝
So, are Pitogo Bananas worth growing? If you are looking for a dessert banana with a fuller, more tropical flavor, then absolutely, unequivocally YES!
As I mentioned earlier, the only real downside I see with Pitogos is that they just don’t produce as prolifically as other banana cultivars such as the Goldfinger, Sweetheart, or Mona Lisa.
Oh, and one other downside I thought I’d mention is really on the sourcing side.
Pitogo Bananas can be tricky to find, so make sure you’re getting them from a reliable source. Though, if you can find some, you’re in for a real treat.
Pitogo Banana Disease Resistance
Due to its triploid (ABB) genome structure, the Pitogo Banana likely exhibits moderate susceptibility to diseases.
I say likely because there are currently no scientific studies that I could find that specifically examine Pitogo’s resistance to Panama disease and Black Sigatoka.
As a result, I recommend planting Pitogo Bananas in disease-free or well-monitored soils to reduce the risk of infection.
Pitogo Banana Tree For Sale (Where To Find)
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Conclusion
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