Author’s Note: Research is credited to National Day Calendar and American University

One of the more popular treats that doesn’t get enough love (in my humble opinion) happens to be banana bread. Fortunately, for all the fellow fans out there, Feb. 23 is National Banana Bread Day.

Bananas were originally grown in Southeast Asia and eventually made their way to the western hemisphere by way of explorers and settlers moving to the New World, namely the Caribbean. 

In the 18th and 19th centuries, bananas were mostly a luxury import for the very wealthy in the U.S. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that the U.S. began importing from an American-owned company in Latin America, which drove down costs and opened the opportunity for more people to enjoy the food.

One of the earliest recipes for banana bread came in 1893. The Vienna Model Bakery was one of the first restaurants to advertise the bread, made using banana flour that had been used for a long time in the West Indies.

In World War One, an overabundance of bananas was made available since ships weren’t able to export the fruit. People used the fruit any way they could to prevent waste, including adding them into bread.

During the Great Depression in the 1930s, once again, people were hesitant to dispose of any food, and overly ripe bananas were no exception. Recipes for their use in baked goods began making more and more appearances in cookbooks. Ultimately, this was the event that made the food take off in popularity. 

Paired with baking powder and baking soda, new introductions to grocery stores that made baking much simpler, banana bread had quickly earned its right to be a beloved classic.

Today, it’s hard to imagine a world where banana bread is not readily available in coffee shops and cookbooks. We can tailor it to our preferences, adding nuts or chocolate chips or other modifications. There are millions of recipes to find on the internet and beyond.

Best of all, on Feb. 23, we have the best excuse to treat ourselves to the banana bread of our choice. Grab a slice from one of the many coffee shops on and around campus, or find a recipe and make your own!