Arrange a spa day with your banana tree

A spa atmosphere and tasty food - what more could you want?

Banana trees like to be in the bathroom. It’s nice and warm and humid, just like in the tropics. And usually there’s filtered light coming in, which they also adore. In such an exotic ambience, you don’t need to add much more to enjoy a spa day in style in your own bathroom.

Banana body scrub

Combine 1 ripe banana, 3 tbsp granulated sugar (or ground coffee) and 1 tsp vanilla extract to make thick paste. Take a warm shower, then scrub and rinse with tepid water for beautifully smooth and soft skin.

Banana smoothie

For 2 glasses: mix 1 ripe banana with an individual serving of spinach (freezer), 1/2 glass of (soya) milk and 1 glass of water in the blender to produce a power smoothie that will keep you going for hours.

Banana mask

Puree a ripe banana with a teaspoon of honey and the juice of 1 lemon. Clean your face thoroughly, apply the mask and leave it in place for 15 minutes. The banana will soften your skin, the honey acts as a disinfectant and the lemon helps shrink your pores.

Banana leaf as plate

If you want to finish your spa day in style, cook your food in banana leaves. Not those of your own tree (that would be a waste!), but from the freezer in the Oriental supermarket. The leaf itself isn’t edible, but once defrosted you can use it to steam, bake or grill and serve fish, chicken, vegetables or meat. The food remains beautifully tender and the leaf imparts a slight nutty flavour.