Pandan Leaves

[shave_ice]

Does anyone know where to find a Pandanus amaryllifolius (pandan leaves) plant? Not the common hala/screw pine that grows everywhere, but the smaller, fragrant species that is used in cooking.

[Carey]

We have & have had it spread out, and cut it back, then spread a little & cut it back.... right now it is trimmed down to the one 'mother plant', so cannot split alot now...probably by mid- late winter there will be runners out (the runners drop roots & are very easy to grow from cuttings..)

If you are looking for leaves right now...we have them (in downtown Keaau...so on the way for most punawebbers), if you are looking for a plant & can wait till the runners go crazy again, then we can share... or if you want to try to root something off the mother plant....

[shave_ice]

Thanks Carey, you rock! I can wait for a cutting, I don't need the leaves right now. Just looking to grow the plant.
BTW, I still have the cassava and moringa cuttings you gave me and the cassava is doing great!
I'll check back in a couple of months. Thanks again!

-Jordan

[Carey]

I was just reading the paper & noticed that there is a 'Filipino Heritage Month' plant sale in HPP this weekend - Sat & Sun 10/5&6, from 8-4,

The sale includes PANDAN, kalamungai, langka, pakak, kamas, dumat & bog...along with anthurium, fruit trees, citrus, lotus & waterlily - the sale is at Batay Taniman on 14th btw Makuu & Paradise - bring the coupon in todays paper for a free sprouted cocnut

[rainyjim]

Hi, can you share what you plan to do with the leaves maybe?

[Carey]

They add an unique oriental flavor/smell... (good, kinda the smell of going into an oriental shop with sandlewood & stuff...) It is used in sooo many of Asia's culinary delights...many aromatic rice dishes, coconut dishes, teas, even candy & ice cream flavoring.... most Thai, Indian, Filipino, Pakastani & Vietnamese cooks we know use it in some of their dishes...

And they also do add a light green color to some things..

[Iju]

shave ice, I have a big bush of it. Please e-mail me if you'd like some cuttings...FREE.

I'm in HPP.

[sukon]

i just had a slice of pandan cake she is from indonesia

[shave_ice]

Iju, I'm very interested. I sent you an an email. Let me know if it didn't go through.

Like Carey said, apparently it is a very popular flavoring in certain asian cuisines. One of my favorite flavors is coconut, so I just recently came across some coconut recipes that included pandan leaf. I'd never heard of it before. I also read that some believe that is the equivalent of vanilla in flavor. I don't know about that, but it has gotten me intrigued enough to try it.

[Iju]

No, I didn't see any e-mail.

Wonder if you got the message "delivery failed" or something like that. In the message, it shows what the e-mail address that you tried to send. You can then send e-mail to that address without going thru PW. So, please try one more time and see if you get that message.

We use pandan leaves in many Thai dishes, especially in desserts. I use them when making pandan cake. Add to cooking rice for fragrance. It is also very nice in ice tea.