Barlin Banana, Supoyono Banana
The mas 40 hari banana is also known as the supoyono banana by Javanese people. The name comes from the time it takes from flowering until when the fruit is ready to eat: 40 days (40 hari). Like another kind of mas banana group, such as the mas kirana banana, this banana is categorized as a table banana which can be eaten directly without any processing. The fruit has a green peel when it is unripe, become yellow when ripe. When the fruit is not completely ripe, the peel usually sticks to the flesh and is difficult to separate. The ripe fruit has a lengthy of 10-12 cm and a diameter of 3-4 cm. One bunch of mas 40 hari bananas usually consists of 6-7 rows of fruit, with each row containing 10-12 bananas. The fruit’s flesh has a sweet and slightly astringent taste.
The mas 40 hari banana grows well in areas which have a high altitude, such as mountains or plateaus. This is due to the fragile nature of the banana tree against pests and diseases. By planting the tree in highlands with their colder climates, many pests and diseases can be avoided. In the area of Yogyakarta, the banana grows well in the fertile soils at the base of Merapi Volcano. Mas 40 hari bananas are usually grown by small-scale farmers to sell wholesale to resellers or by individuals in their personal gardens.
This kind of fruit originally comes from the Yogyakarta Special Region Province. However, this banana has spread to another area around this province such as the Klaten and Boyolali Regency. Mas 40 hari banana is a bit difficult to find in traditional markets, due to the small number of farmer who plant this variety. Unlike other varieties in Yogyakarta, such as kepok or uter banana, the mas 40 hari banana is more difficult to be cultivated due a low resistance against pest or diseases. Many farmers prefer to plant other banana varieties that are more resistant, and so have higher fruit yields.
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