Part 3/8:

The Non-Rationed Oddities: The Mock Banana

While many foods were classified under strict rationing measures, a few items were notable exceptions, either due to importance or scarcity. Bread, for instance, was too vital to ration, and bananas were so rare that actual rationing was unnecessary. However, when banana imports were halted in 1941, many people, including miners, expressed their cravings for this tropical fruit, prompting recipes for alternative banana-flavored dishes using locally available ingredients.

One such concoction was mock banana cream, composed of parsnips mashed with margarine, sugar, and banana flavoring. This inventive solution showcased the British spirit of ingenuity in the face of adversity—a hallmark of wartime Britain.