Description

Pandan is a staple herb and spice in Thailand, Malaysia, and across the whole of Southeast Asia. The unique scent and taste it gives to food makes it a popular choice for cultivation, but it has many uses. Cab drivers in Vietnam are especially fond of pandan leaves, using them as air fresheners for their cars. Pandan is most often consumed as a paste, powder, infused water extract, or made into an essential oil. The leaf is seldom eaten directly, save in a few select dishes. Many people grow their own pandan since, left undisturbed, it will mature into a small tree with leaves about two meters in length. Pandan’s medicinal properties have been remarked upon for centuries and modern science has only recently begun to research its benefits more extensively.