A Hawaiian plantain (often a cooking banana like the Hua Moa or Iholena variety) has a mild, starchy flavor when green—similar to a potato or unripe zucchini—and turns dense, creamy, and mildly sweet like a sweet potato or a less-sweet banana as it ripens.

Firm, very starchy, savory, and potato- or zucchini-like with a clean taste. Not sweet at all. 

Dense, creamy, and moderately sweet, tasting more like a baked sweet potato or a mild cooking banana rather than a sugary dessert banana.