Why Does Banana-Flavored Milk Taste Different from 'Real' Bananas?

When we drink banana-flavored milk or eat banana-flavored candy, it often tastes a bit different from eating a fresh, real banana. There's an interesting historical reason behind this. The bananas we commonly buy today are a variety called 'Cavendish.' However, before the 1950s, the bananas consumed worldwide were a completely different type called 'Gros Michel.' Gros Michel bananas had a much richer flavor and were sweeter. Food companies at the time created artificial banana flavoring (isoamyl acetate) based on the scent of this Gros Michel banana. The problem arose in the 1950s when a banana disease called 'Panama disease' swept through banana plantations globally. The Gros Michel variety was susceptible to this disease, eventually leading to its near extinction. As an alternative, the 'Cavendish' variety, which is resistant to pests and diseases, began to be cultivated on a large scale. In other words, while the type of banana fruit we eat has changed, the artificial flavoring used in banana milk and snacks is