What happened to all the bananas during World War Two + Recipes

 Bananas, we use them in so many recipes and can't imagine life without them. But during World War Two they vanished from the shelves of the greengrocers across Britain. They wouldn't return again for five years.

So why were bananas no longer available? 🍌🍌🍌

In November 1940, Lord Woolton, ( Britain's Minister of Food ) placed an import ban on bananas into Britain due to the severity of shipping constraints and the requirement of ships needed by the Military, as well as for the refrigerated shipment of essential foods only, such as meat and cereals. It was also extremely dangerous for cargo ships travelling from South America to Britain due to blockades by German U-Boats.

An entire generation of children grew up without ever tasting a banana and possibly not even knowing what one was. That all changed when on December 30 1945, a large shipment carrying millions of bananas from Jamaica arrived in Bristol. Celebration time!

It would have been quite exciting for all those who knew what a banana was and to have something return to the greengrocers shelves that resembled life before the war. It would have represented life returning to normal, that better things were yet to come. Unfortunately for most people the bananas were off limits for a little bit longer. The government was to allocate bananas to young children and expectant mothers only. This lasted until 1952, an entire 7 years for everyone else to just sit by and watch others eat a banana. So no bananas for baking either.

However, here in New Zealand there was no official ban on bananas but there was a severe shortage and bananas became very rare and shipments were erratic. Ships were needed for the war effort, not to ship tropical fruit across the Pacific Ocean. Bananas were coming from Samoa and the Cook Islands. There was a general shortage of fruit here in New Zealand during this time as fruit was one of many New Zealand grown foods sent to feed New Zealand and American troops serving in the Pacific. If you had fruit trees on your farm or in your back yard you would have been very lucky.

I believe it was World War Two home economist Marguerite Patten who introduced British wartime housewives to the many mock recipes that became popular during this time. Not only was there mock banana, there was mock turkey at Christmas, mock goose, and other meats, mock cream, mock marzipan and also mock jams and marmalade.

I am always amazed at the positive attitude that British wartime housewives had. They weren't going to let the war stop them from being creative in the kitchen and still trying to enjoy what they were eating , bringing variety to their daily diets and overcoming problems with a lack of ingredients.

I haven't tried any of these recipes yet but they certainly sound interesting and worth a try.

So what was the famous substitute for the humble disappearing banana? Parsnips.

The Mock Banana  🍌🍌🍌

1 Parsnip per sandwich round

2-3 teaspoons caster sugar per parsnip

Banana essence 

Method:

Boil parsnips until soft then mash until spreadable consistency. Add sugar and essence and mix. 

It seems it was most popular as a sandwich filling. You could also use it as you would real banana in banana loaf or cake, banana fritters or pancakes as well.

Post War Banana Recipes

Banana and Rhubarb Compote  🍌🍌🍌

Quantity: 4-6 helpings

4 dried bananas, thickly sliced ( alternatively, use equivalent of pre sliced dried bananas )

225ml water

1-2 tablespoons honey, golden syrup or sugar

1 lb ( 450grams ) rhubarb, trimmed weight, neatly diced

Soak the bananas in the water for 30 minutes then simmer for 5 minutes. Add the sweetening, stir until dissolved then add the rhubarb. Cover the pan and simmer gently until just tender.

Note: Dried bananas became quite popular, as they were very sweet and could be eaten without cooking; children really liked them. They had a somewhat sticky consistency. In this recipe, they help to sweeten rhubarb. The rhubarb would be the garden variety, not forced rhubarb. If using the latter, reduce the amount of water slightly.

"Post -war Kitchen" Nostalgic food and facts from 1945 - 1954, Marguerite Patten OBE

Banana Cake 🍌🍌🍌

Quarter pound of butter ( 113.5 grams )

1 cup sugar

1 egg

3 ripe bananas ( mashed )

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 3 tablespoons milk

Beat butter and sugar to a cream, add egg and beat. Then add flour and mashed bananas, then milk and soda, and bake in a moderate oven for one hour.

Recipe from New Zealand Country Women's Institutes Cookery Book 1955

( I love how simple vintage recipes are! )

I hope you have enjoyed this article and might consider trying at least one of the above recipes.

Have a blessed week, 

Love, Fiona

"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:24