For citizens in Australia, ‘paan’ or betel leaf is limited to Asian communities as an after lunch or dinner delicacy. It is mainly available at few kiosks and eateries in the major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
Mr Dhodi (Paan shop owner, Sydney) says he is really pleased to sell paan to people.
"Not only Australians but people from Pakistan, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Fiji love to eat paan.
It brings back memories from their hometown.
Some people eat in the evenings, some early, but everyone loves paan."
For any paan to taste good, Mr Dhodi says ingredients are very important.
"I make sure to source fresh ingredients as paan is eaten fresh.
Our meetha paan includes fennels seeds, coconut flakes, rose petal paste (gulkand) and paan."
Source: SBS
This betal leaf delicacy is currently making headlines in Pakistan and across the globe not just for the taste but also for its relation to Karachiites. Former Chief Minister of Punjab Mr Shahbaz Sharif, mentioned paan at a recent visit to the port city of Pakistan – Karachi, where he labelled Karachiites as ‘paan eating people’.
During a meeting with media in Karachi, Mr Sharif said,
“I am telling you the truth, I will not make ‘Kiranchi’ but Karachi a better city. Brothers and sisters who eat ‘Paan’, I will make Karachi even better than Lahore.”
Leaders from other political parties condemned the words from Mr Sharif.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Pakistan’s leader, Farooq Sattar said PML-N's party leader's statement is inappropriate, calling it disgraceful.
“He has hurt the feelings of Karachiites and should apologise to them.”
Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI)’s leader Imran Ismail responded to Mr Shahbaz in a video message.
“Shahbaz Sharif Sahab, you visited Karachi today and the residents welcomed you but you called us ‘Karanchiwalas’ and ‘Paanwalas’.”
“Eating paan is a part of our culture,” Ismail added.
Locals also responded on Social Media.
The ‘Paan’ trend took another turn on social media, when a Pakistani journalist's video went viral for his unique mistakes.
In this video, Journalist Chaand Nawab is seen trying to comment for a TV report with different camera angles only ending up with fumbles and errors.
