Have you ever encountered this green leaf??
This article is about green leafy leaf which is far ahead of other green leaves. It's not just leaf to be consumed, its an experience!
My oldest memory attached with this delicious yet healthy food is eating it along with my grandmother. Few -hours after the lunchtime, my grandmother used to take me to betel shop by walk and I use to have sweet-mini betel wrap. The most interesting part was, I try to stain my lips with it so that it gets reddish colour just like lipstick. But yes some unknow healthy practices are carried forward to generations without knowing the benefits or reason behind doing it.
Bettle leaves scientifically known as Piper betel L. & Tambula in Sanskrit has been one of the oldest culinary cultures. It is believed that Lord Shiva and his wife Goddess Parvati had sown the beetle seeds in the Himalayan Range. Another reference is found in Skanda Purana, which states that it was obtained during the churning of the ocean nector. In modern days leaves are used as a mouth-freshener and are generally found in Asian countries like India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, and other Southeastern nations. Around 15–20 million people in India consume and locally it's known as Paan. This huge consumption is due to traditional (healthy) practices which were tied to religious practices. Traditionally leaves are chewed along with areca nut and stimulates anti-septic & mouth-freshener. In Hindu ceremonial worship, betel and areca nut used, as they create transference and euphoric environment. In the southern part of India, two beetle leaves are given to the guest as to honour them. In Bengali tradition, the bride covers her face with two beetle leaves in a ritual called as Subho Dristi when she removes eye contact with groom symbolises the beginning of togetherness, fertility and prosperity.
The various Hindu God which are believed to resides and represents different parts of leaves
Indra & Shukra: Top portion of leaves
Goddess Saraswati: Middle portion
Goddess Mahalakshmi: Lower tip
Jyeshta Lakshmi: Part which connects leave and stem
Lord Vishnu: Inside the leaves
Lord Shiva and Kamdev: Outside the leaves
Goddess Parvati and Mangalya Devi: Left side of leave
Mother Earth: Right side of leave
And Lord Suryanarayana: All over the leaves.
The sholk for betel leaves is
Puugiiphalam Mahad-Divyam Naagavallii-Dalair-Yutam |
Ela[a-A]adi-Cuurnna-Samyuktam Taambuulam Pratigrhyataam ||
Meaning: (O Lord, Please accept this Tambulam)
1: With very divine Pugiphala (Areca Nut) added to Nagavalli Leaf (Betel Leaf), …
2: … and adding powder of Ela (Cardamom) to it, I have prepared this Tambula (Betel); O Lord, please accept it.
Scientifically, beetle leaves help to treat boils, constipation, headache, rheumatism. Beetle essential oils have anti-bacterial, anti-protozoan and anti-fungal properties. Chewing leaves increases alertness, salivation and gives a sense of energetic feeling this is because leaves contain some of the very important vitamins (Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Thiamine and Riboflavin) other phytochemicals (chavibetol, chavicol, hydroxychavicol, estragole, eugenol, methyl eugenol, hydroxycatechol, caryophyllene, eugenol methyl ether, cadinene, γ-lactone, allyl catechol etc) are found in the beetle leaves.
In India, betel leaves are cultivated in many states and is considered as cash crop. Karnataka, Kerala and Assam contribute about 85% of total production. India during the financial year 2019–2 has exported 10,386.52 MT of leaves of Rs. 37.60 crores. During the process a huge quantity of leaves is wasted due to poor transport and storage this is also due to the delicate nature of the leaves. 45 different varieties of betel leaves are found in India where 30 varieties are alone found in West Bengal. The annual yield of a healthy betel plant is around 30–45 leaves. However, intensive management of betel framing is still at naïve stage in India but in coming years production-management will be more efficient.
Preparing Betel for eating is itself an art. Betel seller applies a thin lime layer and sprinkles small pieces of areca nut and enrich taste by adding sweetened ingredients like Gulkand, etc. The leaves are artistically folded and tied with cloves and is ready to be stuffed into the mouth. The taste is so amazing that it cannot be penned-downed. Make sure that when you visit India or get any betel shop around your place try this once.
Disclaimer: There has been discussion over betel causing oral cancer. I suggest you read more as to get to know accurate insights about it. I would be grateful if you can make a small contribution to this aspect too for this article.
References
1. Sripradha, S. Betel Leaf-The Green Gold.
2. Antimicrobial, anti-oxidative and anti-hemolytic activity of Piper betel leaf extracts | Request PDF. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279600131_Antimicrobial_anti-oxidative_and_anti-hemolytic_activity_of_Piper_betel_leaf_extracts. (Accessed: 29th November 2020)
3. SIGNIFICANCE OF BETEL LEAF(pan) IN HINDU CUSTOMS & HEALTH BENEFITS. Available at: https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/significance-of-betel-leafpan-in-hindu-customs-health-benefits. (Accessed: 29th November 2020)
4. The Epicurean, Palliative Pleasures of Paan — Magazine Web Edition February 1994 — Publications — Hinduism Today Magazine. Available at: https://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=3237. (Accessed: 29th November 2020)
5. Guha, P. Betel Leaf: The Neglected Green Gold of India. J. Hum. Ecol. 19, 87–93 (2006).
6. Toprani, R. & Patel, D. Betel leaf: Revisiting the benefits of an ancient Indian herb. South Asian J. Cancer 2, 140 (2013).
7. The ubiquitous betel leaf. Available at: https://www.freepressjournal.in/mind-matters/the-ubiquitous-betel-leaf. (Accessed: 29th November 2020)
8. (PDF) Betel Leaf: The Neglected Green Gold of India. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228624984_Betel_Leaf_The_Neglected_Green_Gold_of_India. (Accessed: 29th November 2020)
9. Others (Betel Leaves & Nuts). Available at: http://apeda.gov.in/apedawebsite/SubHead_Products/Betel_Leaves_Nuts.htm. (Accessed: 29th November 2020)
10. Betel Leaf Farming; Planting; Care; Harvesting Guide | Agri Farming. Available at: https://www.agrifarming.in/betel-leaf-farming-information. (Accessed: 29th November 2020)
11. Tambulam — In sanskrit with meaning. Available at: https://greenmesg.org/stotras/puja/tambulam.php. (Accessed: 29th November 2020)
