Essay On Pandan Leaves

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Pandan Leaves Pandan leaves for insect repellent Pandan leaves come from the Pandanus amaryllifolius shrub, also known as the dwarf or fragrant screw pine. This sprawling perennial plant is native to southeast Asia and has been introduced in other tropical regions. It produces spirally arranged leaves about 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide and up to 18 inches in length. They have a strong, sweet fragrance and are often used to scent and flavour food. Many people in the pandan's native region use the leaves to repel insect pests. Traditional Use In southeast Asia, homeowners and business owners use bunches of pandan leaves to repel cockroaches. For instances, according to a 2009 study by researchers at the National University of Singapore, taxi drivers in Malaysia and Singapore hang these leaves in their vehicles to keep pest insects from colonising the warm, dark interior of the car. Fresh pandan leaves are preferred, since dried leaves quickly lose their aromatic qualities.…show more content…
Even when fresh leaves produce an insect-repellent effect, this may not be reliable or easy to duplicate. Pandan essences and extracts produce a more reliable repellent effect, as long as their concentrations of essential oils have been tested and normalised. In general, stronger-smelling leaves offer greater repellent ability. Uses of pandan leaves Pandan leaves come from the Pandanus amaryllifolius plant, a tropical member of the screwpine genus native to southeast Asia. This shrubby perennial plant has fan-shaped clusters of long, narrow leaves that produce a strong smell when wilted. Fresh pandan leaves have little odour. This plant has historically been used in cooking and to make household items such as baskets. Pandan leaves also contain compounds that repel some species of cockroaches and are a traditional insect repellent.
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