There was a point when the banana was seen as an exotic fruit; when it first began to be imported to countries where it doesn't naturally grow. Nowadays, it's commonplace in stores and supermarkets everywhere - but there is a new option that you may not be familiar with.

Widely known as the "ice cream" banana, blue java bananas have a unique silver-blue colour when they're unripe, due to their wax coating. Some have said it tastes like vanilla custard, while others have likened it to vanilla ice cream. You can eat it raw, but there are plenty of options with it.

You can mix it into a smoothie (peanut butter is recommended), or freeze and blend them to make a natural ice cream alternative. But where do you get it from?

The banana is native to Australia, Hawaii, and parts of Asia - and options outside of these places are limited. However, apparently there is one Florida-based company that allows you to buy them in bulk, and if you live in Hawaii they can be bought at some farmer's market. But there is one more option.

According to Totally The Bomb, tropical plant retailer Wellspring Gardens have made Blue Java starter plants available through Amazon, so you can grow your own. The purchase comes with one potted plant and a sample of their fertilizer blend for $30. "Growing your own fruit results in better tasting and better for you delights!" the Amazon description reads.

If you live in zones 8-11 on the hardiness scale, you can plant them in your backyard with no fuss. If you're in a zone 4 or higher, you can still grow them outdoors, as long as you move them indoors during colder parts of the year.

It is worth mentioning that these plants are not small. They can grow to heights of 15 feet and above, so it may be worth checking out some tips for caring for them here.

So, do you think you could take on the task? I'm pretty sure I couldn't fit one of these bad boys in my flat, but the idea of having a vanilla ice cream-flavoured banana on tap sounds too good to pass up.

There was a point when the banana was seen as an exotic fruit; when it first began to be imported to countries where it doesn't naturally grow. Nowadays, it's commonplace in stores and supermarkets everywhere - but there is a new option that you may not be familiar with.

Widely known as the "ice cream" banana, blue java bananas have a unique silver-blue colour when they're unripe, due to their wax coating. Some have said it tastes like vanilla custard, while others have likened it to vanilla ice cream. You can eat it raw, but there are plenty of options with it.

You can mix it into a smoothie (peanut butter is recommended), or freeze and blend them to make a natural ice cream alternative. But where do you get it from?

The banana is native to Australia, Hawaii, and parts of Asia - and options outside of these places are limited. However, apparently there is one Florida-based company that allows you to buy them in bulk, and if you live in Hawaii they can be bought at some farmer's market. But there is one more option.

According to Totally The Bomb, tropical plant retailer Wellspring Gardens have made Blue Java starter plants available through Amazon, so you can grow your own. The purchase comes with one potted plant and a sample of their fertilizer blend for $30. "Growing your own fruit results in better tasting and better for you delights!" the Amazon description reads.

If you live in zones 8-11 on the hardiness scale, you can plant them in your backyard with no fuss. If you're in a zone 4 or higher, you can still grow them outdoors, as long as you move them indoors during colder parts of the year.

It is worth mentioning that these plants are not small. They can grow to heights of 15 feet and above, so it may be worth checking out some tips for caring for them here.

So, do you think you could take on the task? I'm pretty sure I couldn't fit one of these bad boys in my flat, but the idea of having a vanilla ice cream-flavoured banana on tap sounds too good to pass up.