The Spanish blue banana that tastes like vanilla ice cream

An unusual blue variety is turning heads in the Canary Islands with its creamy texture and sweet flavour

It may sound like something from a science fiction film, but blue bananas really do exist - and they are growing right here in Spain. Known as Musa Blue Java, this eye-catching fruit is gaining attention in the Canary Islands for both its colour and its unique taste, which many say is similar to vanilla ice cream.

The variety was first introduced to Tenerife in 2021 by farmer Eduardo León, who began with just 78 plants in the island’s south. Since then, the crop has quietly grown in popularity. These bananas can now be found in supermarkets across the Canary Islands and are also sold online.

At first glance, the banana's blue-tinged skin might seem like something engineered in a lab, but it is completely natural. The distinctive blue colour only appears while the fruit is unripe. As it ripens, the skin turns yellow, much like the traditional bananas we are all used to — which can cause a bit of confusion at the fruit bowl. Inside, however, the flesh is paler, with a creamier texture and a surprisingly sweet, dessert-like flavour.

Local chefs have wasted no time in getting creative. The blue banana is already being used in both savoury and sweet dishes, from classic papas arrugadas with mojo sauce to smoothies and desserts.

Originally from Southeast Asia, including the Philippines and Indonesia, the Blue Java banana has also been grown in places like Hawaii and Central America. Like its yellow cousin, it offers a number of nutritional benefits, such as high levels of potassium, fibre, vitamin C and antioxidants. However, it is a more delicate plant that needs extra care, especially when it comes to wind protection. This makes it a little more expensive on the market.

And it’s not the only colourful fruit being grown in the Canaries. Red bananas, with their reddish skin and purple flesh, have been cultivated on the islands for over 40 years. With a mild raspberry-like flavour, they are more common than the blue variety but still fairly rare outside the archipelago.

For those keen to try something different, it seems the Canary Islands are offering more than just sunshine and sea.