Kanniyakumari Matti Banana

The Kanniyakumari Matti Banana is a traditional, highly fragrant table banana cultivar grown in Kanniyakumari district, prized for its sweet, sub-acid taste, soft firm texture and rich aroma. The fingers are short and slightly angular with a distinctive flavour that connoisseurs rank among the finest dessert bananas, and the fruit is naturally suited to the district's humid coastal climate and fertile soils. Long cultivated by local farmers and closely tied to the region's cuisine and temple offerings, the matti banana is a heritage variety maintained through traditional planting of suckers. Its delicate taste and fragrance make it a premium fruit that fetches a good price and is sought after for special occasions. As a locally adapted landrace, it supports the smallholder banana growers of Kanniyakumari and adds to the district's rich diversity of native bananas.