Paan Ho Tou Banaras Ka!

Have you often wondered why Indians chew Betel Leaf, called 'Paan". It has been a part of Indian Culture since thousands of years and besides its fragrant ingredients it has some medicinal properties as well.

Paan Ho Tou Banaras Ka!

McKay Savage Wikimedia CC BY 2.0 Source: Wikimedia

Are you fond of chewing 'Paan" specially Banarasi Paan? You will be surprised to learn that actually the Banarasi Paans are not grown in Banaras itself but are grown mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh and imported to Banaras where you can find a Paan shop at every two steps.

Senior Journalist and Historian Anshuman Shukla tells us that the Paan leaf is extremely delicate and sensitive. It cannot take direct sunlight and has to remain covered with a net. The tradition of offering Paan to guests and visitors or chewing a Paan after meals goes back thousands of years in India. In fact, during any Hindu Puja one of the necessary offerings to the Gods is Paan and Supari.

Paans are grown more in the Eastern Regions of India. When Sher Shah Suri built the Grand Trunk Road, paans started being sent out to various other parts of India. Paans are great for digestion but in a limited quantity because chewing too may can stain your teeth and some of the other ingredients added to Paans may not be very healthy!

So go for it and chew a Paan after dinner!


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2 min read

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By Kumud Merani

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