Bananas have been around since 500 BC. They are believed to originate from Southeast Asia, the jungles of Malaysia, Indonesia or the Philippines. Today, bananas are grown in over 150 countries, with 105 million tons produced each year.
The banana is considered to be a staple food for a great number of countries. There are over 1000 different varieties of bananas that are grown around the world. These varieties are then categorized into 50 groups. Some varieties are sweet, while others, like the plantain, are not.
Bananas are used both sweet and savory foods. They are also used as a replacement for eggs in vegan recipes.