Banana is served along, it serves as a compliment to the puddings and solidifies the dessert (To make it stay on the leaf). Copyright 2020 Bennett coleman & co. ltd. All rights reserved | The Times of India. Editor's pick on the best recipes, articles and videos. The banana leaf is also used for treating sprains and burns. Whats people lookup in this blog: Tradition Of Eating On Banana Leaf You have been successfully subscribed to the Food Newsletter, You have been successfully unsubscribed from the Food Newsletter, India has a tradition of serving food on banana leaves. The ancient tradition of serving food on a freshly cut Banana leaf has its roots in India. Whatever functions or gathering it may be, food is served in the wide banana leaves. A piping hot cup of adrak wali chai can make her day bright and shiny! It was only later when I found that the tradition of eating not only from banana plantains but most leaves is a tradition that dates back centuries. Deeksha Sarin  |  Updated: December 28, 2017 14:54 IST. They can be cleaned with little water. Banana leaves are also used in some ayurvedic medicinal preparations. Beautiful decorations for pooja can be done with a banana leaf. 2) Banana leaves are Eco-friendlier than options When poison is served on a banana leaf, it changes in colour. Here in Singapore, the widely popular practice of eating from a banana leaf can be traced back to The Banana Leaf Apolo. Imparts Great Flavour. A 1991 study conducted by Abiliza E. Kimambo and H. M. H. Muya of the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania determined that the banana leaves, fruit peelings and the core of the stem provide sufficient nutritional value to be a highly valuable food for dairy cows and cattle. Healthy Banana leaves are packed with plant-based compounds called polyphenols such as epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, which is also found in green tea. The Banana Leaf Apolo has been serving its food on a banana leaf to patrons since it opened its doors in 1974. They efficiently embraced the benefits of nature as a 'Way of Life'. 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Why to Practice Eating on a Banana Leaf? This tea stall in Gwalior has chai for every mood, Korean man gets emotional as wife serves him the last dish by his mom, made a decade ago. What started as a tradition down in South India thousands of years ago is now also proving to be a healthy trend. About Deeksha SarinAn eccentric foodie and a die-hard falooda lover, Deeksha loves riding scooty in search of good street food! It works like magic. Adds to the taste. Try cooking a few recipes like idli in banana leaf. Eating food served on banana leaves is healthy, hygienic, nutritious and good for the environment. Serving food in Banana Leaf is a tradition unique to India, especially in South India. A banana leaf is filled with antioxidants named polyphenol which can fight serious illnesses, mainly cancer. This also helps in digestion. (Image courtesy: Shutterstock), Being larger than the leaves of most plants, banana leaf can be cut in different sizes and can be placed on platter of any size. Serving hot sustenance on these leaves exudes a few supplements that improve one's nourishment. Popular restaurant chains like “Kamat Hotels” have also retained this banana leaf tradition, and hence, are a favorite haunt, especially for the orthodox families. Earlier, banana leaves were commonly used to eat food instead of plates. So, when the food is put on the leaves, the wax melts and provides a better taste. A cheap option. *The leaf is the most sacred and would find its usage in all Vedic rituals. Subscribe to get daily ideas on meals. See more ideas about Boodle fight, Food, Filipino recipes. They should also be preferred by you in the restaurants as they are definitely cleaner than the utensils you are served food in. Once you finish eating, you always close the top leaf side over the lower leaf side which signifies that you have enjoyed your meal and you will visit again. Guests are given the top part of the leaf while family members are given the lower parts. (Image courtesy: Shutterstock), Wondering what to cook today? Environment Friendly Food on Banana Leaves: Different traditions are prevalent in every region of India. In South India, there is this wonderful tradition of serving food to guests on these leaves on special occasions and festivals. While plastic and thermocol plates add to the mound of landfills as they are non-bio degradable and take many years to break down. Banana leaves grow up to nine feet in length. A typical South Indian feast is, for the most part, served on a banana leaf. There are surplus benefits in eating on the banana leaf. After that ginger curry and lemon pickle is served. Why Eat Food On A Banana Leaf? They are used for cooking, wrapping, and food-serving in a wide range of cuisines in tropical and subtropical areas. Also, it saves you from the dangerous chemicals that can be found on thermocol or plastic plates. It is also considered to be the holiest plate to have meals on, which is why even today many south Indians serves their food on Banana leaves. When hot food is served on the banana leaf, we get the polyphenols from leaf in our food. Eating sustenance on a banana leaf is viewed as healthy. | For reprint rights: Times syndication service, Copyright 2020 Bennett coleman and co. ltd.All rights reserved.The Times of India. Benefits Of Eating On A Banana Leaf February 23, 2017 July 29, 2020 Swati Pokhriyal It’s been in our culture to eat healthy and in a scientific way, whether its the spices which are used for preparing food or the way of eating it, everything is unique. Eating on banana leaves is a custom that dates back thousands of years, however its benefits are still relevant today. Sometimes the serving bowls will have serving spoons, and other times your hands will be the only utensils. Instead of wasting water in cleaning your utensils, eating on banana leaves (if they are easily available) is not just convenient, but also saves your time and energy in doing the dishes. Logic behind Indian tradition of eating with hands. Banana leaves have a wax-like coating that prevents dirt and dust from sticking on the surface of leaves. Banana leaf: Banana leaf enhance the taste of food. Like in South India, there is a tradition of eating food on banana leaves. These three awakens the digestive acids to digest the food that you are going to eat further. These leaves are considered sacred and pure and are also used in offering prasad to the deities. The waxy coating on banana leaves gives the food a distinct but a subtle flavor. *young leaves – placed as plaster on burns and other skin afflictions. Eating on banana leaves is an age old Indian tradition, however its benefits are relevant even today. In several south Indian states, it is traditional to serve food on banana leaves. These anti-oxidants are said to prevent cancer and a number of lifestyle diseases. Being larger than the leaves of most plants, banana leaf can be cut in different sizes and can be placed on the platter of any size. One reason is that the heat from food served directly on a leaf will release the leaf's natural antioxidants, which then combine with the food itself for added health benefits. But banana leaves are eco-friendly and can be turned into manure. The ancient tradition of serving food on a freshly cut Banana leaf has its roots in India. This Is Why You Must Eat On A Banana Leaf, India has a long-standing tradition of serving food on banana leaves, These thick leaves are big enough to serve a multi-course meal, Food when served on banana leaves gets enriched with several nutrients, Slurp Alert! Eating food on a banana leaf is a custom that dates back to thousands of years. We want to know the benefits of eating on banana leaves. 2. India is a land of various traditions and cultural values. Though you cannot eat the banana leaf, eating the food on it adds that extra traditional flavour to your cuisine. Huge amounts of food are put in the middle of the table. Mar 17, 2017 - Explore Janet Reyes's board "Traditional Filipino Food on banana leaves" on Pinterest. What a healthy escape from the mound of dishes in the sink! There is a kind of wax coating on banana leaves that have a distinctive flavour. 01 /8 The story of logic India has a tradition of serving food on banana leaves. This custom is still common in south India households where the whole family enjoys a meal together, often sitting on floor and eating with hands rather than using cutlery. Everybody sits together on the floor and eats with their hands. The wax like coating on these leaves not just adds taste to the dishes, but also makes it easy to clean the leaves and as it prevents dirt and dust from sticking. Later, the leaves can also be used to make compost. *Banana seed mucilage is given in cases of diarrhea. And it’s for a good reason as well. Just wash them off and use them to eat food. 1. (Image courtesy: Shutterstock). Especially people of South India use Banana leaves in a higher ratio than the north. By serving hot food on these, this wax melts and enhances the taste of food. (Image courtesy: Shutterstock), The healthiest and unhealthiest ways to cook eggs. In several south Indian states, it is traditional to serve food on banana leaves. Steaming or cooking food in banana leaf also adds a sweet flavor and imparts astringency to the food. Provides Great Flavor. Even though you are not eating a banana leaf you can still get a significant amount of similar benefit just by eating your hot tasty food in a banana leaf. The Banana Leaf Apolo has been serving its food on a banana leaf … After putting the leaf, salt, sour and chilly is served first. In the cuisines of Asia, Africa and South America, banana leaves serve as wrappers to keep rice, meat or fish and other foods moist during cooking. (Image courtesy: Shutterstock), These leaves have a waxy exterior and hence they are easy to clean as dust does not stick to them. 1. Here in Singapore, the widely popular practice of eating from a banana leaf can be traced back to The Banana Leaf Apolo. Banana leaves have a waxy coating on them which has a subtle but distinct flavour. Banana leaves were used to offer food to Hindu deities, especially during festivals. The tree provides a canopy in many tropical climates. From time immemorial people of South, use banana leaf to serve and pack food. Banana leaf is from nature and by using banana leaf you are limiting the use of plastic or other substances that are not good for the environment. (Image courtesy: Shutterstock), Eating in a banana leaf saves you from licking the chemical residue of your washing powder or gel that lurks in unnoticed on your plate. The list is pretty much endless, with thousands of restaurants continuing & promoting this culture even today. Decorations for pooja can be found on thermocol or plastic plates to and. A piping hot cup of adrak wali chai can make her day bright and shiny its in! Food on a banana leaf from the mound of dishes in the water the... Only flavourful, eco-friendly, hygienic and practical but also chemical free some! Eating on banana leaves is a land of various traditions and cultural.... 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