Description
Plantain Yellow, referring to ripe plantains, is locally known as “Paka Kola” or specifically “Bari Kola” or “Kathali Kola” when referring to cooking varieties in Bangladesh. It has a thick, bright yellow skin that blackens as it ripens further, and a soft, sweet, starchy flesh. Scientifically part of the genus Musa, ripe plantains develop a high sugar content and a distinct, banana-like aroma when mature. Plantains are staple crops grown widely across tropical and subtropical countries, including Africa (Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria), Latin America and the Caribbean (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru), and parts of Southeast Asia (Philippines, Indonesia). They are extensively cultivated throughout Bangladesh. In Bangladeshi cuisine, ripe plantains are often enjoyed fresh as a sweet snack, used in desserts, fried into sweet chips (kola bhaja), or incorporated into sweet dishes, celebrated for their natural sweetness and soft texture.