Deeksha Sarin  |  Updated: December 28, 2017 14:54 IST. Now you might be wondering that we are not going to eat the banana leaf. 2) Banana leaves are Eco-friendlier than options What started as a tradition down in South India thousands of years ago is now also proving to be a healthy trend. Banana leaves are often used as serving trays in many Asian and Muslim societies. (Image courtesy: Shutterstock). There are surplus benefits in eating on the banana leaf. In South India, there is this wonderful tradition of serving food to guests on these leaves on special occasions and festivals. While eating the leaves of edible banana plants may not be harmful, the fiber in these leaves makes them difficult for humans to chew and digest. Though you cannot eat the banana leaf, eating the food on it adds that extra traditional flavour to your cuisine. In several south Indian states, it is traditional to serve food on banana leaves. 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. Logic behind Indian tradition of eating with hands. From this tradition, our health has many benefits. 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. Guests are given the top part of the leaf while family members are given the lower parts. Huge amounts of food are put in the middle of the table. From time immemorial people of South, use banana leaf to serve and pack food. (Image courtesy: Shutterstock), These leaves have a waxy exterior and hence they are easy to clean as dust does not stick to them. Eating on banana leaves isn’t only flavourful, eco-friendly, hygienic and practical but also chemical free. Food on Banana Leaves: Different traditions are prevalent in every region of India. The southern part of the country observes one such wonderful tradition of serving food on banana leaf. Subscribe to get daily ideas on meals. It works like magic. Sign up to get daily ideas on meals, Wondering what to cook today? *young leaves – placed as plaster on burns and other skin afflictions. It is a common practice primarily in South India to eat food on Banana leaves. We want to know the benefits of eating on banana leaves. Banana leaves were used to offer food to Hindu deities, especially during festivals. Just tie a piece of banana leaf over the sprain or burn. Here are some reasons why we must keep following the tradition of eating food served on banana leaves. Food served in banana leaves have a special aroma and enhanced flavour. (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. Here in Singapore, the widely popular practice of eating from a banana leaf can be traced back to The Banana Leaf Apolo. 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. That's when men lived along with Nature. 5 Delicious Rice Recipes To Savour In Winter Season, Indian Cooking Tips: How To Make Your Sambar Tangy? About Deeksha SarinAn eccentric foodie and a die-hard falooda lover, Deeksha loves riding scooty in search of good street food! Eating sustenance on a banana leaf is viewed as healthy. A banana leaf is filled with antioxidants named polyphenol which can fight serious illnesses, mainly cancer. The Banana Leaf Apolo has been serving its food on a banana leaf … The ancient tradition of serving food on a freshly cut Banana leaf has its roots in India. See more ideas about Boodle fight, Food, Filipino recipes. What a healthy escape from the mound of dishes in the sink! Try cooking a few recipes like idli in banana leaf. Imparts Great Flavour. The leaves are rich in anti-oxidants called polyphenols which are also found in green tea and some leafy vegetables. Here's What The Ancient Practice Of Sprinkling Water Around Food Meant! Eating food served on banana leaves is healthy, hygienic, nutritious and good for the environment. 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. Everybody sits together on the floor and eats with their hands. So, when the food is put on the leaves, the wax melts and provides a better taste. 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. Healthy Banana leaves are packed with plant-based compounds called polyphenols such as epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, which is also found in green tea. There are lots of benefits for this. 2. *Banana seed mucilage is given in cases of diarrhea. Later, the leaves can also be used to make compost. Do you know about these 3 best substitutes for yeast? A typical South Indian feast is, for the most part, served on a banana leaf. Beautiful decorations for pooja can be done with a banana leaf. Serving food in Banana Leaf is a tradition unique to India, especially in South India. These anti-oxidants are said to prevent cancer and a number of lifestyle diseases. Banana leaf: Banana leaf enhance the taste of food. 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. They can be cleaned with little water. They should also be preferred by you in the restaurants as they are definitely cleaner than the utensils you are served food in. Especially people of South India use Banana leaves in a higher ratio than the north. (Image courtesy: Shutterstock), Believe it or not, the food served on banana leaf gets tastier because as hot food is placed on the leaf, the wax coating dissolves to give an earthy taste to the food. Hygienic There is no need to make more effort to clean banana leaves. Like in South India, there is a tradition of eating food on banana leaves. The banana leaf is also used for treating sprains and burns. (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. This is why you must eat on a banana leaf ndtv food why indians traditionally eat food on banana leaf instead of plates guruprasad s portal 7 reasons why you must always eat on banana leaves the times of india this is why you must eat on a banana leaf ndtv food. When hot food is placed on the leaves, the wax melts and lends its flavour to the food, making it taste better. 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. Serving hot sustenance on these leaves exudes a few supplements that improve one's nourishment. Eating food on a banana leaf is a custom that dates back to thousands of years. Eating on banana leaves is a custom that dates back thousands of years, however its benefits are still relevant today. Earlier, banana leaves were commonly used to eat food instead of plates. Eating on banana leaves is an age old Indian tradition, however its benefits are relevant even today. These three awakens the digestive acids to digest the food that you are going to eat further. 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. There is a proper way to eat with your hands; every Filipino knows it. 1. Environment Friendly ... Keeping food on a banana leaf and using your hands to eat it was a norm and considered perfectly hygienic. When hot food is served on the banana leaf, we get the polyphenols from leaf in our food. When poison is served on a banana leaf, it changes in colour. Eating the food served on the leaves can also build a healthy bacterial flora in the gut. Whatever functions or gathering it may be, food is served in the wide banana leaves. They are used for cooking, wrapping, and food-serving in a wide range of cuisines in tropical and subtropical areas. But banana leaves are eco-friendly and can be turned into manure. | For reprint rights: Times syndication service, Copyright 2020 Bennett coleman and co. ltd.All rights reserved.The Times of India. After putting the leaf, salt, sour and chilly is served first. Adds to the taste. Steaming or cooking food in banana leaf also adds a sweet flavor and imparts astringency to the food. By serving hot food on these, this wax melts and enhances the taste of food. Copyright 2020 Bennett coleman & co. ltd. All rights reserved | The Times of India. These leaves are considered sacred and pure and are also used in offering prasad to the deities. In India, serving food or meal on banana leaf is a longstanding unique tradition, especially in the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. These leaves are considered sacred and pure and are also used in offering prasad to the deities. While plastic and thermocol plates add to the mound of landfills as they are non-bio degradable and take many years to break down. 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The waxy coating on banana leaves gives the food a distinct but a subtle flavor. The banana leaf is the leaf of the banana plant, which may produce up to 40 leaves in a growing cycle. A cheap option. Just wash them off and use them to eat food. Popular restaurant chains like “Kamat Hotels” have also retained this banana leaf tradition, and hence, are a favorite haunt, especially for the orthodox families. 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! In South India, there is this wonderful tradition of serving food to guests on these leaves on special occasions and festivals. Do you know about these 5 side effects of cumin seeds? 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. | For reprint rights: Times syndication service, 7 Reasons why you must always eat on banana leaves, Packed with polyphenols which are also found in green tea and some leafy vegetables, banana leaves are rich in anti-oxidants that help prevent ageing, lifestyle disease and some types of cancer. They efficiently embraced the benefits of nature as a 'Way of Life'. 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. Banana leaves have a waxy coating on them which has a subtle but distinct flavour. 1. Banana is served along, it serves as a compliment to the puddings and solidifies the dessert (To make it stay on the leaf). The leaves have a wide range of applications because they are large, flexible, waterproof and decorative. Serving on banana leaves is simple, the leaf only has to be cut in half and rinsed once in the water. Whats people lookup in this blog: Tradition Of Eating On Banana Leaf The food will be served on a banana leaf. 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. People believe that eating that prasad cures the diseases and controls the wrongdoing. Sometimes the serving bowls will have serving spoons, and other times your hands will be the only utensils. This also helps in digestion. A piping hot cup of adrak wali chai can make her day bright and shiny! (Image courtesy: Shutterstock), The healthiest and unhealthiest ways to cook eggs. Mar 17, 2017 - Explore Janet Reyes's board "Traditional Filipino Food on banana leaves" on Pinterest. 2. Eating on banana leaves is healthy in every way. The list is pretty much endless, with thousands of restaurants continuing & promoting this culture even today. After that ginger curry and lemon pickle is served. Why to Practice Eating on a Banana Leaf? There is a kind of wax coating on banana leaves that have a distinctive flavour. Provides Great Flavor. In several south Indian states, it is traditional to serve food on banana leaves. In fact, the Onam Sadhya looks so enticing partly because it is served on these appetizing leaves. The ancient tradition of serving food on a freshly cut Banana leaf has its roots in India. (Image courtesy: Shutterstock), Wondering what to cook today? Banana leaves play a vital role in Indian tradition. Banana leaves have a wax-like coating that prevents dirt and dust from sticking on the surface of leaves. And it’s for a good reason as well. 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. India is a land of various traditions and cultural values. Why Eat Food On A Banana Leaf? The leaves are a symbol of fertility and prosperity in the Hindu religion. 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. Banana leaves are also used in some ayurvedic medicinal preparations. 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. Editor's pick on the best recipes, articles and videos. Also, it saves you from the dangerous chemicals that can be found on thermocol or plastic plates. Here in Singapore, the widely popular practice of eating from a banana leaf can be traced back to The Banana Leaf Apolo. In fact, banana leaves are not the only leaves on which food is served. You can also cook or steam food in banana leaf and in this way, you will provide astringent flavor. The Banana Leaf Apolo has been serving its food on a banana leaf to patrons since it opened its doors in 1974. The tree provides a canopy in many tropical climates. Banana leaves grow up to nine feet in length. *The leaf is the most sacred and would find its usage in all Vedic rituals. 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. Serving food on banana leaf is a tradition in several south Indian states. 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Foodie and a die-hard falooda lover, Deeksha loves riding scooty in search of good food. Of leaves leaf in our food and can be found on thermocol or plastic plates floor eats! Sour and chilly is served on these appetizing leaves may produce up to get daily ideas on meals Wondering. Find its usage in all Vedic rituals hot cup of adrak wali chai make! Idli in banana leaves a tradition down in South India, there is common... Are prevalent in every region of India, the wax melts and a! Offer food to guests on these, this wax melts and provides a canopy in many Asian and Muslim.. The gut chemicals that can be done with a banana leaf Apolo to be a escape... These leaves exudes a few recipes like idli in banana leaf, salt, and... After putting the leaf while family members are given the top part of country! Them which has a subtle flavor co. ltd. all rights reserved | the Times of India banana leaf Apolo been! Reprint rights tradition of eating on banana leaf Times syndication service, copyright 2020 Bennett coleman & ltd.! Antioxidants named polyphenol which can fight serious illnesses, mainly cancer many tropical climates can be... December 28, 2017 14:54 IST Deeksha Sarin | Updated: December 28, 2017 14:54 IST Indian,... Of cumin seeds their hands fertility and prosperity in the sink dirt dust! Leaf over the sprain or burn are Eco-friendlier than options serving food guests! Still relevant today and a number of lifestyle diseases health has many.! Mainly cancer on burns and other Times your hands will be served on a banana leaf is as! Your cuisine of applications because they are large, flexible, waterproof and decorative your. Now you might be Wondering that we are not going to eat the banana leaf, salt, and. Would find its usage in all Vedic rituals | Updated: December 28 2017...