🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Bang Krathum district sits south of Phitsanulok town, about 40 km out by car, and it's the province's old heartland for sun-dried bananas. What sets the bananas here apart is that they're dried in real sunlight (many makers now cover them with parabola domes to keep out dust and rain), using very ripe namwa bananas, so the flesh comes out chewy and sweet without turning hard, and without the heavy added sugar of ordinary oven-dried bananas. Bang Krathum sun-dried bananas are registered as a Geographical Indication (GI) product of Phitsanulok.
Bang Krathum Sun-Dried Bananas People Actually Carry Home
Bang Krathum has dozens of producers, from big factories that ship nationwide to home-front stalls run by village women's groups. We've ordered them by the names you'll run into most often and that are easy to find in Phitsanulok town. Prices are rough ranges and shift with pack size and season.
Jiraporn (Jiraporn Food)
The best-known maker, and the one that put Bang Krathum sun-dried bananas on the map far beyond the province. They use very ripe namwa bananas with no added sugar, and sell the round vacuum-packed style, the flat pieces in boxes, and a popular chocolate-dipped version. You'll find it in big malls nationwide, so it's the surest bet if you'd rather not drive out to Bang Krathum.
Natthakorn Sun-Dried Bananas
A long-running factory in Bang Krathum that dries its bananas in parabola domes, so they come out clean and evenly soft. Locals buy a lot of it both to eat and to give as gifts. The flesh is chewy with just the right sweetness, a good pick if you want the traditional taste from a maker you can trust.
Mae Sunan Sun-Dried Bananas
A smaller maker selling from the home front in Bang Krathum and stocked at the souvenir centre by Wat Yai. The flesh is soft and naturally sweet, and people like that it isn't sharply sugary. If you're already in town and want something from a small, hands-on maker, swing by Wat Yai and you'll find it.
Kamnan Praphat Sun-Dried Bananas (Ban Ko Khu Women's Group)
Organic sun-dried bananas from the Ban Ko Khu farmers' women's group, grown and dried the natural way with no chemicals. A good choice if you want something genuinely community-made and want to support a local group.
Ban Kluay Phitsanulok
A shop in Bang Krathum making both sun-dried and oven-dried bananas, with several flavours and styles to choose from. Handy if you want to grab a few different things in one stop, whether for older relatives or just to snack on yourself.
Banana Society
A newer brand drying its bananas in parabola domes to a consistent standard, with smart packaging and chewy flesh. A good pick if you want a souvenir that looks modern, for coworkers or a younger crowd.
Chocolate-Coated Sun-Dried Bananas
Not a single brand but a style several makers do (Jiraporn and others): sun-dried bananas coated in milk chocolate, eaten straight as a snack. Kids love them, and they're a good gift for anyone who isn't into plain sun-dried bananas.
Kluay Brake Taek (Crispy Banana Chips)
Thin-sliced crispy banana chips, sweet or salty, another Phitsanulok souvenir that pairs naturally with sun-dried bananas. They're crisp and easy to finish a whole bag of, so buy them alongside the dried ones to have both soft and crunchy on hand.
How to Pick Good Sun-Dried Bananas
The flesh should be soft and chewy, a deep reddish-brown, neither jet black nor hard. It should smell of natural banana, not of burnt sugar. Vacuum-packed ones keep longer and are easier to carry on a plane than open boxes.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Phitsanulok food tour or cooking class
Half a day with a local who knows the lanes — or cooking a dish yourself — teaches you more than just eating. Book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide.
Other Phitsanulok Souvenirs Worth Carrying Home
Phitsanulok isn't only about sun-dried bananas. If you want a more varied haul, add these — all easy to find at the town's souvenir centres and markets.
Sweet Tamarind / Tossed Tamarind
Big-pod sweet tamarind, plus tangy tossed tamarind in a sour-sweet-salty mix. A popular souvenir you'll find at the Wat Yai souvenir centre, and a solid gift for older relatives.
Mi Sua Noodles
Phitsanulok-style thin wheat noodles, sold as white, yellow and riceberry strands. They keep well and you can boil them up at home.
Mu Yo / Kun Chiang
Black-pepper mu yo (pork sausage) and smoked kun chiang (Chinese sausage), savoury souvenirs that plenty of people carry home. They freeze well and suit anyone who likes something to go with rice.
Coconut Toffee / Khao Taen with Watermelon Syrup
Homestyle sweets like fresh coconut toffee and khao taen (crispy rice cakes) drizzled with watermelon syrup. Easy to snack on, cheap, and good for handing out to a crowd.
Where to Buy Phitsanulok Souvenirs Easily
If you'd rather not drive out to Bang Krathum, town has a few spots that gather many makers in one place, so just pick whatever's most convenient.
- Wat Yai Souvenir Centre (Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat) — a long row of souvenir shops around the temple, gathering sun-dried bananas from several makers, plus tamarind and mi sua noodles, all in one place. Pay respects to Phra Phuttha Chinnarat, then shop for souvenirs right after — the most convenient stop for anyone coming into town.
- Factory shops in Bang Krathum — if you want it fresh, at good prices, and to see how it's made, drive out to Bang Krathum district (about 40 km from town). Several makers have storefronts where you can taste before you buy.
- Malls / supermarkets in town — brands like Jiraporn are stocked at Tops, The Mall and the larger supermarkets, so if you want an easy grab before heading home, the mall is a safe bet.
- Markets in Phitsanulok town — the morning markets and souvenir markets in town carry sun-dried bananas, crispy banana chips and homestyle sweets at wallet-friendly prices.
Carrying It on a Plane / Shipping Far
Vacuum-packed sun-dried bananas and tossed tamarind travel easily on a plane. For savoury items like mu yo and kun chiang, if you're going far, ask for vacuum packing or pack them in a cooler bag, and refrigerate them as soon as you get home.
Plan your Phitsanulok trip — eat, explore and shop for souvenirs
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