Pandan to overtake avocado and matcha as the hot new food trend, according to Domestic Goddess Nigella Lawson
Article by Sarah Young - Independent.uk.co and foodiful.com.au and various media on Pandan being the Next Superfood!
Beware: a Pand(an)emic coming this way!
"KEEP your pandan on, there’s a new food trend" as Nigella Lawson pronounced it to be true and she’s the Domestic Goddess, so she must receive her information from on high. We can now expect everything from chicken to ice-cream to be flavoured with this South East Asian plant.
Natural plants have unique varieties which can often aid different ailments. One of these popular ones is the Pandan Leaves. I have this plant in my garden which I frequently use in cooking rice and some desserts. Recently I have learned some numerous benefits I could get in using Pandan Leaves which I am about to share with you.
First, let me introduce to you what Pandan Leaves are.
These are also called Pandan Plant which is very popular for its aromatic flavours and most predominantly used in Southeast Asian cooking.
As many people will observe the uses of the pandan plant leaves is not limited just in cooking. Each part has been found to have medicinal benefits containing tannin, glycosides and alkaloids which are said to be beneficial for a number of human health concerns.
As a matter of fact Pandan Leaves are extremely useful for healing various wounds and is said to be a great pain reliever in such areas as headaches, chest pain, arthritis, earache and is also known to aid in reducing a fever reducer. It is also believed to freshen the breath and reduce gum and mouth pain by chewing its leaf.
In addition, each leaf of pandan is also effective in reducing stomach cramps and stomach spasm. In the same manner many people have discovered and proved that it is an effective remedy for coughs as well. So it is well worth a consideration for being one of your best chose of plants to introduce in your garden.
Below is a summary of the health benefits of Pandan:
Natural flavour and colour (chlorophyll) with phytonutrients that's laced with high antioxidants including amino acid (glutamic acid, aspartic acid, threonine), protein, fiber, calcium, iron, potassium, sodium, vitamin C, essential oils, tocopherol and carotenoid.
My Blue Tea Pandanus products are extracted without the use of any colorants, fillers, diluting agents or preservatives. They contain NO chemicals, is sodium-free and non GMO.
Suitable for Vegetarians, is gluten free and lactose free.
Relieves headache and arthritis.
Treats ear and muscle pains.
Eases chest pains.
Lower high blood pressure.
Strengthens immune system.
Reduces fever.
Treats wounds.
As a laxative for children
Solve several skin problems.
Eliminates dandruff.
Strengthen gums and reduces stomach spasms.
Helps in speeding in the recuperation of women who have just given birth and are still weak.
In cooking there are so many ways and preparations you can do using pandan leaves. One is to cook with the juice or add gelatin into it to make a buko pandan. You can also make a juice by boiling the leaves and letting them steep.
Here’s how.
Gather a bunch of Pandan Leaves according on how much aromatic you want your juice and tie them into a knot so that it will be easier to remove from the water later. Otherwise, grab a sachet of Pandan Powder and make your own Pandan drink.
Fill 2/3 of warm water into a large pot.
Drop the knot of Pandan Leaves into the water then bring to boil .
Let the leaves boil for 10 minutes.
Reduce the heat to simmer and cover the pot.
Simmer the leaves for another 10 minutes until the leaves soften and the water turns green.
Let the juice cool at room temperature and transfer it to an air-tight container.
Remove the leaves from the juice.
Store the juice in the refrigerator up to 7 days.
** If you are using Pandan Powder - you skip the above steps - just stir in some Pandan Powder in tepid water or your water bottle - give it a good shake and drink it.
While Pandan flowers are rare they are said to be aphrodisiac which can stimulate sexual desire.
These are something about the Pandan Leaves we have learnt over the years; we have used the leaves but if you know anything more about the uses and benefits of Pandan leaves we would love to hear about it so please share it with us!
Further health references:
Below are some references on the health benefits of Pandan leaves and you might like to listen to the video here - Benefits of Pandan Leaves on youtube.
Blue Herbal Tea - our best seller with lemongrass, ginger and with Pandan, of course
Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstances or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen.
Pandan Coconut Jam or affectionately called "Kaya"
References :-
http://www.drinkbenefits.com/pandan-leaves-health-benefits.html
http://the-benefits.com/pandan-leaves/
https://drhealthbenefits.com/herbal/leaves/health-benefits-of-pandan-leaves
https://www.foodiful.com.au/articles/439/nigella-lawson-predicts-pandan-will-be-the-next-food-fad
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/pandan-avocado-food-trend-nigella-lawson-matcha-leaf-sweet-a8003211.html
http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/pandan-the-next-big-food-craze-in-uk-us-celebrity-chef-nigella-lawson