Banana and banana leaves have always been a healthy part of the Indian food tradition. Even in today’s technological era, its usefulness has not decreased. But now it comes on our part as a prime responsibility to bring it back and make it a part of our daily life.
Banana leaves are not only useful for our health but also for our financial health. We just need to know its correct use and spread the information about it so that the world can use it to the fullest.
In today’s market, not only banana but its leaves are also being sold at good prices. In other words, just like banana fruit i.e. banana, banana leaf can also increase our income but before that we should also know the way to preserve it for a long time.
In the states of South India like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, not only banana fruit but also healthy banana leaves are an important part of the market as well as daily life. Here people consume food on banana leaves, and it is considered a symbol of purity and sanctity. The health benefits that the body gets from eating on banana leaves along with pleasure are similar to the benefits of drinking green tea. Nowadays, the export of banana leaves is also increasing in the Gulf countries.
Fresh banana leaves are usually used as a plate during meals. Especially during holidays and parties, their use for food is becoming very popular. With the increase in the demand for fresh leaves, its use during meals and worship is also increasing continuously.
Just as the purity of food items is maintained when kept on fresh banana leaves, similarly, if the worship material and various items used during worship are kept on banana leaves instead of on a plate, then their purity is maintained.
From the point of view of purity and health, fresh banana leaves are becoming an essential part of our kitchen. Be it traditional Indian cuisine or modern lifestyle food like cakes, pizzas, pasta, momos etc. – every food item is being placed on banana leaves, making it more enjoyable for people to eat.
Not many people know that banana leaves have many other uses, such as it is useful in reducing fever and also helps in healing wounds quickly. People have also started using them to wrap cakes and pack items like sticky rice.
Safety and Processing
Basic Processing: Fresh banana leaves are first processed at low temperature. Then their surface is cleaned and soaked in water.
How to wash: Banana leaves can be placed in a washbasin and washed immediately with running water. Then the leaves are wiped with a clean cloth to remove fine dirt from their surface. But while washing, take care to wash with soft hands so that the leaves do not tear.
Blanching: After washing, the fresh leaves are placed in boiling water for a few minutes and then cooled. This process is called blanching, which helps in maintaining the stiffness of the leaves and killing the microorganisms. It also helps in retaining the green colour of the leaves for a long time.
How to store: Banana leaves are carefully folded and placed in a plastic bag. Using plastic bags helps in minimizing exposure to cold air. Their storage period can be seven to ten days.
You can keep banana leaves in the freezer to preserve them for a longer period. Frozen banana leaves help in maintaining their natural state.
To keep banana leaves fresh for more than 10 days, ethylene absorbing sachets are inserted between them or they are wrapped in MAP films and kept at a controlled temperature of 5 degrees Celsius. Preservation in this way will increase the export possibilities of banana leaves and generate more income.
Nowadays, plates, bowls and glasses made of banana leaves are popular in good societies. These are a great alternative to plastic and are also eco-friendly, as they quickly decay and mix with the soil.
Thus, banana leaves can not only become a good source of income, but with the right preservation technique, they can also be kept fresh for a long time.
As for marketing, we will prepare a separate post for it. But it is also true that you can also do marketing at your own level. No rocket science like knowledge is required for that. Your marketing will undoubtedly be successful if your product or your service is strong.
