The invention relates to a ripening chamber and to a method for ripening fruit. In particular, the invention relates to a banana ripening chamber and to a method for artificial ripening of bananas (banana ripening technique). In a method according to the invention for ripening fruits, in particular bananas, a respiration of the fruit is measured in a closed chamber, which contains the fruit to be ripened. A ripening chamber according to the invention is designed to carry out a method according to the invention for ripening fruit.