Soon stocks will run out
Dont miss this opportunity while supplies last.
Soon stocks will run out
Dont miss this opportunity while supplies last.
Plantain Buyer’s Hub
Fresh plantain, delivered UK-wide
We ship boxes of fresh plantain across the UK — ripe golden yellow for dodo, unripe green for boli, or Olu-Olu chips if you want them ready to eat. Each box holds around 68–72 pieces. This page covers the three formats we stock, how to pick between them, and how to keep them at their best once they arrive.
The three formats we stock
Fresh ripe golden plantain
Yellow with the first black spots appearing — sweet, soft flesh. Best for dodo, kelewele, plantain-in-stew. Box of ~68–72 pieces. Order ripe plantain →
Fresh unripe green plantain
Firm, starchy, mildly sweet. Best for boli, plantain porridge, dodo agbagba, or letting ripen at home. Order green plantain →
Olu-Olu plantain chips
Ready-to-eat 60g packs — Sweet Chilli (red), Salt (yellow), Pepper (green). Sold by the box of 24. Order chips →
Which plantain for which dish
| Dish | Best format | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dodo (Nigerian fried plantain) | Ripe golden yellow, black-spotted | Caramelises when fried, sweet and soft inside |
| Kelewele (Ghanaian spiced fried plantain) | Just-ripe (yellow, few spots) | Firm enough to cube, sweet enough to caramelise |
| Boli (roast plantain) | Semi-ripe (yellow-green) | Holds shape on the grill, sweet without burning |
| Plantain porridge (asaro plantain) | Unripe green | Starchy, absorbs stock and pepper without falling apart |
| Dodo agbagba | Unripe green (large agbagba variety) | Traditional prep for this dish uses green plantain |
| Plantain flour (elubo) | Unripe green, dried | Needs to be fully green to keep starchiness in the flour |
Storing and ripening plantain at home
Plantains ripen at room temperature over 3–7 days depending on how warm your kitchen is. Store them out of direct sunlight, spread out (not stacked) so air can circulate.
- To speed ripening: put in a paper bag with a banana or apple. The ethylene ripens them faster.
- To slow ripening: move to the fridge once yellow — the skin will darken but the flesh stays firm for another week.
- To freeze: peel, slice, freeze flat on a tray, then transfer to a bag. Keeps 3 months.
For the full storage walkthrough see our how to store plantains guide.
Plantain FAQs
How many plantains in a box?
Our standard box holds approximately 68 to 72 pieces, which typically fills a family of four for around three to four weeks.
Can I buy less than a full box?
{VERIFY — do you offer half-box or single-hand pricing? Answer yes/no here.}
Do you deliver plantain to Scotland and Wales?
Yes. Fresh plantain ships to mainland Scotland and Wales in 2–3 working days, packed to arrive in condition. See our UK delivery page for full timings.
What if some pieces arrive bruised?
Photograph anything damaged within 24 hours of delivery and email support@myafricanshop.co.uk. We refund or replace on the next dispatch.
What’s the difference between plantain and banana?
They’re related, but plantain is larger, starchier and always cooked before eating. Bananas are eaten raw and are sweeter. Plantains are a staple starch across West Africa and the Caribbean.
How do I know when plantain is ripe?
Ripe plantain has yellow skin with the first black spots appearing. Fully ripe (best for dodo) is yellow with heavy black patches. Green plantain is unripe; black-all-over is over-ripe but still good for very sweet dishes.
Order plantain now — ripe golden, unripe green, or Olu-Olu chips. UK-wide delivery.