Elaka's Plantain is a creamy frozen treat made with ripe plantain, coconut and cashews, and it's one of the very first two flavors we ever made. It celebrates our founder's hometown of Kerala, India, a place that loves plantains and coconuts like nowhere else. It's gluten-free and contains nuts.
If you're searching for a plantain dessert, a banana ice cream with a twist, or just something you've truly never tasted before, this is the flavor where Elaka's story begins. Here's why it matters to us, what makes plantain so special in Kerala, and how to enjoy it.
The story: where Elaka began
Every brand has a first chapter. Ours is Plantain. Our founder, Shafna Shamsuddin, grew up in Kerala, on the southwest coast of India, where plantains and coconuts turn up in almost every meal. When she started making frozen treats in North Carolina, Plantain was one of the first two flavors she created, a love letter to Kerala.
Here's what makes it such a Kerala flavor. In much of India, plantains aren't one of the main everyday staples. In Kerala, they absolutely are. They're fried, steamed, curried, turned into chips and served as snacks with tea. So this flavor is our homage to Kerala, the state that took a humble fruit and made it a star. Everything we've made since has grown from here.
Plantains and coconuts in Kerala
The plantain Kerala loves
Plantains look like big bananas, but they're starchier and firmer, and they're usually cooked. Kerala's best-known variety is the nendran, a long plantain that stays firm when raw and turns naturally sweet as it ripens, without going mushy. That's what makes it so versatile in the kitchen.
You'll find nendran plantains all over Kerala's food culture:
- Pazham pori, also called ethakka appam: ripe plantain slices dipped in batter and fried until golden. It's a classic tea-time snack, sold everywhere from roadside carts and restaurants to trains, and made at home for guests.
- Banana chips, made from raw plantain sliced thin and fried, traditionally in coconut oil.
- Sharkara varatti, fried plantain pieces coated in jaggery syrup for a sweet, crunchy treat.
Plantain is just as happy in savory dishes, but it's the sweet, ripe side of the fruit that inspired our flavor.
The land of coconuts
Coconut is everywhere in Kerala too: grated into curries, pressed into milk, used for cooking oil and enjoyed fresh. The most widely cited explanation of Kerala's name even comes from coconut. In Malayalam, "kera" means coconut tree and "alam" means land, so Kerala is often translated as "land of coconuts." Some historians favor a different theory, tracing the name to the ancient Chera dynasty, but the coconut story is the one you'll hear most often. Either way, it's hard to picture Kerala's kitchens without coconut.
Put ripe plantain and coconut together, and you have two of Kerala's most beloved ingredients in one bite. That pairing is the heart of this flavor.
What Plantain tastes like
If you've only had plain bananas, ripe plantain will surprise you. It's sweet and fruity, but deeper and more mellow, with gentle caramel notes. In our Plantain, that ripe-fruit sweetness meets the rich, creamy, tropical flavor of coconut, and cashews add a buttery, nutty finish. It's smooth, comforting and sunny, a little like banana bread and a coconut cream pie got together on a Kerala beach.
Key ingredients
- Ripe plantain
- Coconut
- Cashews
Dietary badges
Plantain is gluten-free and contains nuts (cashews). It isn't vegan. Our badges describe the ingredients in each flavor and aren't a promise that a product is free of any allergen. Please check the label on your pack, and contact us before ordering if you have an allergy question. Find it with our other gluten-free flavors in the gluten-free collection.
How to serve it
- With warm pazham pori. Serve a scoop next to freshly fried plantain fritters. Hot, crispy and cold, creamy together is pure joy. Banana fritters or fried sweet plantains work beautifully too.
- With tea, the Kerala way. Plantain snacks are a tea-time tradition in Kerala, so pair a bowl with a cup of chai or our Sulaimani Sorbet for a bright contrast.
- As a tropical sundae. Top it with toasted coconut flakes, chopped cashews and a drizzle of warm caramel or jaggery syrup.
Which packs it's in
Order it on its own as a Plantain 4-pack, add it to a mix and match 4-pack from all flavors, or find it in two of our curated 4-packs:
- Kerala Roots: Plantain with Jinn's Peanut Unda, Kulfi and Vanilla Milk. This is where Elaka began, and Plantain leads the way.
- Family Favorites: Plantain with Z's Lemonade, Strawberry Hot Chocolate and Rose, the pack that keeps the whole table happy.
Want to know more about the family behind the flavors? Read our story, and for another Kerala-inspired treat, try Jinn's Peanut Unda. Every pack ships frozen on dry ice, and you can read how shipping works.
Frequently asked questions
What does plantain taste like in a dessert?
Ripe plantain is sweet and fruity like banana, but deeper and more mellow, with caramel notes. In Elaka's Plantain, it's paired with coconut and cashews for a creamy, tropical frozen treat.
Is Plantain vegan?
No. Plantain doesn't carry our vegan badge. It is gluten-free and contains nuts (cashews). For plant-based options, browse our vegan collection, and always check the label on your pack.
Why is plantain so popular in Kerala?
Plantains are part of everyday cooking in Kerala, from pazham pori fritters to banana chips and sharkara varatti. In much of the rest of India, plantains aren't one of the main staples, which makes Kerala's love of them special.
Ready to taste the flavor where Elaka began? Grab a Plantain 4-pack, share it with family, and start making memories today!
