Virupakshi & Sirumalai Hill Banana:- Godness of Indian fruits
What is Virupakshi & Sirumalai Hill Banana?
Virupakshi Hill Banana is a unique indigenous variety of banana exclusively grown in the Palani Hills of Western Ghat in Tamil Nadu. It is mainly cultivated in the lower Palani hills of Tamil Nadu particularly around the Virupakshi region in Dindigul district.
It is a rare banana belong to the Musa AAB genome pome subgroup (it represent a distinct group of triploid banana cultivers) & it got its name “Virupakshi” from the small town of Dindigul district of Tamilnadu where it is exclusively grown. Virupakshi Hill banana has thick skin with slightly curved shape having riged greenish-yellow skin. It is popular for its fragrant apple like aroma, drier pulp consistency, longer shelf-life(upto 10 days under ambient temperature & condition) & sweet taste.
- It is one of main ingredient of “Palani Panchamirtham” , a unique temple panchamirta prepared in the Dhandayuthapani swami temple in Palani. In case Varupakshi hill banana is not available, then Sirumalai Hill banana is used in the Palani Panchamritham as a substitute due to similar characteristic.
https://www.foodforward.in/posts/virupakshi-bananas
Sirumalai Hill Banana:-
Sirumalai Hill Banana is also a unique variety of Banana mainly grown in the Sirumalai Hills in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. The unique geographical condition and climate of Sirumalai Hills impart a distinct flavor & aroma to the Banana. It also belong to the Musa AAB genome pome subgroup. This banana also has thick peel with five angels, yellow color when ripened.
- Sirumali Hill Banana known for pleasant aroma & unique medicinal properties and often used as a alternate of Virupakshi hill banana in the famous Temple prasadam i.e Palani panchamirtham.
Virupakshi Hill Banana & Sirumalai Hill banana are the most unique crop of Tamil Nadu that are exculsively grown in the eastern part of western Ghat and lower Palani Hills & Sirumalai Hills.
https://digitalgi.in/sirumalai-hill-banana/
Charateristic of Virupakshi hill banana & Sirumalai hill banana
| Particulars | Virupakshi Hill Banana | Sirumalai Hill Banana |
| Area of cultivation | It is exclusively grown in the eastern part of western Ghat and lower Palani Hills in the Dindigul district between elevation of 4000-5000 feet under rainfed conditions | It is mainly grown in the Sirumalai Hills in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu between elevation of 2500-3000 feet under rainfed conditions |
| Apprearance of banana | The color of banana upon ripen is yellowish-green with a distinct curvature. The length of banana is approx 10-15cm long and one bunches contains aprox 70-100 pieces | Its color and appearance is almost similar to the Virupakshi Hill banana except flavor & aroma. It is more aromatic than Virupakshi Hill banana. |
| Texture | Its texture is firm with dry pulp or less juicy. It ihas excelent aromaa. It is slightly less sweet than Sirumalai hill banana. The color of ripe banana is green- yellow with thick peel and five angles. | It has Jucier taste with typical curvature of fruit. The color of ripe banana is yellow with thick peel and five angles. |
| GI Tag | It granted GI Tag in the year 2008 | It also granted GI Tag in the year 2008 |
Culinary use of Virupakshi hill banana & Sirumalai hill banana
The Culinary use of Virupakshi hill banana and Sirumalai hill banana is mainly in the preparation of temple prasadam i.e Palani Panchamritam. Due to firm texture & high sweetness, it is preferred to eat fresh and in salad & fruit chat form. It is also used plenty in the preparation of Shakes & Smoothies.
Content Reference:-
The above content has been compiled after referring various culinary websites & books, Research Papers, Research articles, Food magazines, news papers, Govt websites, personal interaction with renowned chefs from various hotel brands like The Ashok Group of hotel, ITC, Oberai, Leela, Park Hotels & various IHM Faculties, Nutritionists etc. & many more. The main purpose of my blog is to educate the students who are pursuing their carier in hotel industry & food industry as well as to spread awareness amoung people about indian food. The picture which i have used has been taken from the open source website .Some of the important website referred for the above content are:-
- https://sahasa.in/2021/03/29/sirumalai-hill-banana-of-tamil-nadu/
- https://www.mabif.com/discover-the-pride-of-tamil-nadu-registered-agricultural-gi-products/
- https://nrcb.org.in/nrcbadmin/webfs/publication/gibanana.pdf
- https://nrcb.org.in/nrcbadmin/webfs/GI_Tagged_Varieties.pdf
- https://www.origin-gi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/89-sirumalai-hill-banana.pdf
- https://www.indianembassyusa.gov.in/pdf/GI.pdf
- https://www.tnpscthervupettagam.com/articles-detail/geographical-indications-of-tamil-nadu-%E2%80%93-part-2
- https://www.paticheri.com/2022/08/29/virupakshi-bananas-pazhani-panchamrutham/
- https://www.thekodaichronicle.com/food/farmers-journal-meet-the-fragrant-virupakshi-hill-banana-endemic-to-the-palani-hills/
- https://www.origin-gi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/88-virupakshi-hill-banana.pdf
- http://www.agritech.tnau.ac.in/expert_system/banana/season&variety.html
- https://heritager.in/en/virupakshi-hill-banana-2/?srsltid=AfmBOoq-jLiknT80FKnQ8AJ4lQOXji-WCVrB4VGWkhItm07-_GJUICH4
- https://nrcb.org.in/nrcbadmin/webfs/publication/gibanana.pdf
- https://www.facebook.com/WildEarthFoods/posts/the-hill-bananas-of-southern-india-have-not-only-received-the-acclaimed-gi-tag-b/4632023446838501/
- https://www.thekodaichronicle.com/food/farmers-journal-meet-the-fragrant-virupakshi-hill-banana-endemic-to-the-palani-hills/
- https://sahasa.in/2021/04/12/virupakshi-hill-banana-of-tamil-nadu/
- https://heritager.in/en/virupakshi-hill-banana-2/?srsltid=AfmBOoq-jLiknT80FKnQ8AJ4lQOXji-WCVrB4VGWkhItm07-_GJUICH4
- https://grokipedia.com/page/virupakshi_hill_banana
- https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/IndHort/article/view/119911/46121
- https://geographicalindicationsoftamilnadu.wordpress.com/gi-tags-of-tamil-nadu/
