Paan is often consumed after a meal or snack in Bangladesh and is believed to aid digestion. Paan/Betel leaves go best with Area nuts and sometimes with other masalas as well. It's common in some South Asian countries as well as in a few parts of Africa.
I grew up seeing a lot of areca nut trees around my house and Paan gardens as well in the villages. It's a purely cultural thing and also considers a cash crop in Bangladesh. Back then, no wedding, cultural event, or festival can take place without having a Paan ritual.
It is a massive part of Bangladeshi culture. Although nowadays modern society does not consume it much this is likened to the rural area. But you will still find this ritual in our society where we offer paan to guests after tea or meals or during occasions. The variation of Paan masala will make you believe how rich this culture is and how much it used to mean to the people!
I usually don't enjoy the distinct taste of the paan but love tasting the colorful masala sometimes. A few days back I discovered a 'Paan shop' near a shopping mall named Eastern Banabithi Shopping Complex - Banasree, Dhaka. This Paan shop was just in front of the entrance, so you don't have to search for it. It's a small shop but was packed with colorful masala. It looked like an explosion of color!
You may wonder what the masala consists of. To be honest, I can't name them all. There were Areca nuts that go best with the Paan/Betel leaves. The shop was offering different flavors of nuts, sugar-coated coriander, colorful ground coconut, mini candies, dry fruits, etc.
Usually, after a heavy meal people like to consume these fancy Paans. Otherwise, they only add area nuts and sometimes tobacco leaves.
I thought that the young generation doesn't consume Paan nowadays. But seems like they do enjoy Paan. And I have to agree I wouldn't mind having one with all those colorful candies and dry fruits. It will help reduce the actual distinct taste of the Paan.
The shops were so rich with all the different masalas. There was more on the counter. Those containers were not sugar-coated, so if anyone like to have the authentic flavor of the spices then they may ask to have those. One thing I must mention, the older generation likes the authentic taste and adds tobacco leaves with the Paan but the younger generation likes different masalas, as I found. My mom was also a Paan consumer but for some health issues, she stopped having Paan.
A regular Paan usually costs $.10. But adding the masala can cost you as high as $10 and more depending on what flavor you are adding. In some places, it's a delicacy and they add gold and silver leaves to it.
I had the chance to have a fancy paan at a restaurant once. It was such an experience!
I was thinking to have a Paan that day but I knew I would regret the taste of it in my mouth which usually stays very long. If you are not a regular consumer then you will end up having a sour mouth for a day. It's because there is a natural numbing agent in the Paan. And that's the major reason why people like to consume it in the first place. It's kind of a drug to the regular consumer! I know there are more risks of consuming Paan than health benefits. But I believe, having this occasionally would be fine.
I hope you enjoyed the burst of the colors of the masala.
