What do you use the pandan or the screwpine leaves for?
By tomitomi
@tomitomi (5429)
Singapore
July 3, 2010 7:22am CST
The pandan or screwpine leaves are just wonderful to us. I believe it is, in many asian cultures.
We add them to cook our rice with for that wonderful aroma. We boil them in our water to make our drinks. Tea has never smelled so good. We pound and extract their juices to add into our pastries and cakes. We stack a bunch of them in our shoe rack to get rid of the odors as well as the bugs I'm sure. The fact that there has never been an ill effect from the use of these leaves could well suggest that they do have medicinal or health properties. There has never been a day without the use of pandan or the screwpine leaves at home.
Let's hear from you now. And thanks! 
5 responses
@mario_stevens (6971)
• Malaysia
3 Jul 10
other than cooking and for making sweet drinks, i do tie up a bunch of crushed leaves and toss them into my cupboards and drawers... it does keep those little pests away and leaves a cool smelling odor behind 
1 person likes this
@MrDollars (454)
• Australia
11 Aug 10
I have never seen nor heard of these types of leaves before but judging but what you have said, you can really do quite a bit with them.
That is so awesome!
$-MrDollars-$
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
12 Jul 10
oh yes, this reminds me of the oldies who always put leaves of this wonderful plant to their rice. even with some desserts, my grandmother always have pandan. she even plant several of this plant at the garden because she always need them and use them almost everyday. i also wish to have pandan of my own, here in our garden but unfortunately, i still have not seen a single plant over here in this city.
@tomitomi (5429)
• Singapore
12 Jul 10
Hi neil!
I'm not sure what it's called there. But your description of its use to cook rice with as well as in desserts perfectly match the pandan leaves.
I know it plays a part in many Asian cultures. I'm glad we still use it today as old-fashioned as we are. Perhaps with modern lifestyle not many have continued to use it and that explains why the plant is seldom seen.
Thanks for the response! My prayers for your son! Have a nice day!
I know it plays a part in many Asian cultures. I'm glad we still use it today as old-fashioned as we are. Perhaps with modern lifestyle not many have continued to use it and that explains why the plant is seldom seen.
Thanks for the response! My prayers for your son! Have a nice day!
@loralie1106 (208)
• Philippines
3 Jul 10
I could remember that my late grandmother places pandan leaves in the pot before placing the rice. Pandan leaves adds an aroma to the rice. However, we don't use pandan leaves anymore as they are hard to find nowadays.
@liyanaadam (24)
• Malaysia
13 Jul 10
Apart from cooking, pandan leaves also play some role in our wedding ceremonies. The newly wed will have to sit together on a stage or altar, and relatives will put the finely chopped leaves onto their hands. I am not sure the exact meaning of this ritual, but i believe this is a gesture of welcoming the new couple into the community.
