Editing Banana (section)

==== Leaf ====

{{main|Banana leaf}}

Banana leaves are large, flexible, and waterproof. While generally too tough to actually be eaten, they are often used as ecologically friendly disposable food containers or as "plates" in [[South Asia]] and several [[Southeast Asia]]n countries.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nace |first1=Trevor |title=Thailand Supermarket Ditches Plastic Packaging For Banana Leaves |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2019/03/25/thailand-supermarket-uses-banana-leaves-instead-of-plastic-packaging/ |access-date=March 26, 2019 |work=Forbes |date=March 25, 2019 |archive-date=March 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326004110/https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2019/03/25/thailand-supermarket-uses-banana-leaves-instead-of-plastic-packaging/amp/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In [[Indonesian cuisine]], banana leaf is employed in cooking methods like [[pepes]] and [[botok]]; banana leaf packages containing food ingredients and spices are cooked in steam or in boiled water, or are grilled on charcoal. Certain types of tamales are wrapped in banana leaves instead of corn husks.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/confessions-of-a-foodie/story/2022-12-07/banana-leaves-transform-texture-of-chicken-tamales |title=Banana leaves transform texture of chicken tamales |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=December 7, 2022 }}</ref>

When used so for steaming or grilling, the banana leaves protect the food ingredients from burning and add a subtle sweet flavor.<ref name="Morton-2013"/> In [[South India]], it is customary to serve traditional food on a banana leaf.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grover |first1=Neha |title=Why South Indians Eat On Banana Leaves - Health Benefits And More |url=https://food.ndtv.com/health/why-south-indians-eat-on-banana-leaves-health-benefits-and-more-3640878 |publisher=[[NDTV]] |access-date=12 March 2024 |date=27 December 2022}}</ref> In [[Tamil Nadu]] (India), dried banana leaves are used as to pack food and to make cups to hold liquid food items.<ref name="Kora-2019">{{cite journal |last=Kora |first=Aruna Jyothi |title=Leaves as dining plates, food wraps and food packing material: Importance of renewable resources in Indian culture |journal=Bulletin of the National Research Centre |volume=43 |issue=1 |date=2019 |doi=10.1186/s42269-019-0231-6 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="150px">
File:Chicken satay on banana leaf in Java.jpg|Banana leaf as disposable plate for [[chicken satay]] in [[Java]]
File:Nacatamales in steamer.jpg|Nicaraguan [[Nacatamal]]es, in banana leaves, ready to be steamed
</gallery>