Apr 25, 2010

Paan: Indian Delicacy

Paan vendors are a common sight on the streets of India. Paan is an Indian chew and while ingredients vary it is often made with made with betel nuts, mixed spices (masala) and lime paste and wrapped in a betel leaf eaten whole.

Paan is usually eaten at the end of a meal. It is thought to aid digestion and also acts as a mouth freshener.

This vendor was selling Paan in Janpath market in New Delhi. What local delicacies have you tried when traveling?

7 comments:

Fly Girl said...

I'm reading the Indian classic, "A Suitable Boy" and several characters have red-stained mouths from eating paan. The young women don't like it very much. I thought it was just the betel leaf, I didn't know they put all the other things on it.I have a delicate stomach and don't try as many things as I like when I travel but the most interesting was probably alligator soup in St. Helena, South Carolina.

Wendy said...

Fly Girl,
There is also a tobacco version of paan and I believe that stains the teeth as well as the betel nuts.Not an attractive look. I tried alligator in East Africa and the texture didn't work for me.

Lakshmi said...

ah ! delhi is great for street food..esplly old delhi..did u go to paratha galli ?

Jen Laceda | Milk Guides said...

I've had Turtle in the Philippines :( . It had a citrus-y scent to the meat / shell.

Wendy said...

Lakshmi, We didn't make it there.

Jen, I'm glad it didn't taste like chicken. :^)

Aron said...

Hi there, after we got featured in Prêt à Voyager I thought I would check out the other boarding pass bloggers.
We just got back from India! Did you try the Paan there? I showed some interest and one of the vendors gave us two and refused payment. So kind.

Team Rees said...

I actually really liked Paan! It was fun to try, and always a bit different. On several occasions the seller insisted on putting it into my mouth himself, which was hilarious!