Casabanana

Sicana odorifera · Fruit

40 pairings

Casabanana is the long, cylindrical fruit of Sicana odorifera, a vigorous tropical vine in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae) native to South America. Its lacquer-bright crimson-to- purple rind hides sweet, melon-scented orange flesh, and the whole fruit is so fragrant it is traditionally laid out to perfume rooms and linen.

Picking a good onedrag

UnderripeOverripe

Colouring upOrange spreading over the green with the first melon scent behind it. Sweet enough to eat raw but firm, so it slices cleanly and cooks or preserves well.Good, still firm

Rind colourOrange to red over most of it, green still showing

The squeezeFirm through, barely moving under a thumb

SmellFirst melon sweetness, faint, only close to the rind

Reading a just ripe one. Move the slider and the rest of this page — nutrition, pairings — re-scores with it.

Preparing