The Quest For the Perfect Loaf: An Investigation into the Creation of Banana Bread

Banana bread is a tasty treat that is well-known across the globe. It is best described as a sweet and moist bread made from mashed-up bananas, a fruit that originates from the tropics in Southeast Asia (Britannica). It is believed that banana plants were taken to the New World and disseminated throughout the Caribbean islands. From there, banana production soared and spread throughout the hemisphere. In the 18^th and 19^th centuries, bananas were considered to be a luxury good in the continental United States, making them a luxury good of reach for the average consumer. It was not until the early 20^th century that the American-owned United Fruit Company began importing bananas from Latin America, therefore making them more accessible in the U.S. (Smith, 2020)