Bananas about Bananas

Bananas, at one time, were the nation’s second-biggest export earner. Fiji was a British Crown Colony from 1874 until independence in 1970. Under the indenture system, people from India came to Fiji on contracts of service mainly to work on plantations, including banana plantations. 

Enjoying fresh fruit is surely one of the premier joys of life. And there are few better fruits than bananas. Sometimes referred to as the hydrogen bombs of nutrition, they are packed full of goodness.  In Fiji, bananas have a long and respected history, being at one time Fiji’s second largest export item after sugar.

But it is as a domestic crop that bananas, which are called china (spelt jina), are most visible locally. They are a popular household garden item, and banana trees may be found in urban backyards as well as in rural plantations.  For the uninitiated, they are sometimes confused with their cousin Vudi, which offers savoury as well as sweet epicurean options.

Do enjoy the fresh fruit on offer during your stay. Your resort shall oblige you, but it is always a nice idea to check out your local market for in-season fruit.

Fijians love their food! They love growing it, eating it, and sharing it. More about our favourite foods, recipes, and gardens here. And don’t forget Fiji’s bountiful bananas.