Paan sellers are getting creative with a plethora of ingredients and spices to create a carnival of flavours and varieties for their patrons. We give you a glimpse of the various paans that have the people going gaga.
Couple Paan
An aphrodisiac paan, also known as the Honeymoon Paan, it is encased in gold foil and sold in a pair. With a special paan divided for the male and female, the attractive box also has a unisex musk ittar. While the paan meant for the male contains liquid fragrance agar, mush, gulab, Kashmiri saffron and secret ingredients wrapped in betel leaves from Kolkata, the paan meant for the women, contain safed musali, saffron and gulab. It is believed to be a breath-fragrant for couples consuming it. Our paan's are exported across India and the world because of our ingredients that we procure from across the country. We have 52 varieties of paan and have been catering to customers for more than 50 years now. The demand goes up during the wedding season, said Mohammed Sarfuddin Siddiqui, the owner.
Meetha paan
This tobacco-free paan is also known as the 'Ladies Special' and is essentially a dessert-mouth freshener. A drizzle of gulkand, a pinch of mint, fennel seeds and glazed cherries go into this sweet paan variety that is hugely preferred, because of its sweet taste. Customers always demand for something new and experiment with flavours like mango, strawberry, pineapple, fruits, grapes and ice-cream that have been a huge hit. We also offer paans customized to suit individual taste buds, said Abdul Samad, the shop owner.
Fire paan
For immediate relief from cough and cold, fire paan comprising of smoked clove wrapped in paan, is the best medicine. This paan leaves one with a cool refreshing sensation, entwined with sweet flavours. It should be eaten quickly, said a Mayura Kale, a customer.
Laddu
Ladies favourite paan, laddu, comes in multiple flavours like pineapple, khas, anjeer, chocolate and shahi. It is also available in different colours and served chilled. Made with a unique mix of dry fruits, flavour and gulkand, laddu acts like a taste changers after a heavy meal and is loved by all, said Jameel Khan, owner.
Tara Special Paan
A concoction of gulkand, masala, fennel seeds, cherry, cashewnut, dates, coconut powder, and other secret elements make this melt-in-the-mouth paan, which is topped with intricate silver work and is stuffed generously with crushed dryfruits. We like sticking to our original versions instead of new flavours. For the last 50 years, we have been using natural ingredients to make our paans by conventional process, said SK Abdul Rahim, the shop owner.
Banarasi Special Paan
The betel-nut loaded Banarasi Paan is not for first timers. The Banarasi and the meetha Banarasi paans trace their origin to Varanasi and are a blend of chutney and masala rolled up in betel leaves. The art of paan making, though simple, requires creativity to impress customers who get addicted to its taste and flavour. While new flavours are in vogue, the Banaras, Calcutta, Maghai and masala varieties are evergreen ones, said Anil Bagul, shop owner.
Chocolate paan
This modern day variation of an age-old delicacy has resulted with the addition of fruit syrups, chocolate pieces and flavoured gulkand, much appreciated by youngsters, women and children. To enjoy eating paan, it must be chewed properly and all its juices swallowed to get a feel of all the ingredients used. Paan should only be spit if it contains tobacco, katha or supari, explained Mirza Imran, a shop owner.
Fire paan
For immediate relief from cough and cold, fire paan comprising of smoked clove wrapped in paan, is the best medicine. This paan leaves one with a cool refreshing sensation, entwined with sweet flavours. It should be eaten quickly, said a Mayura Kale, a customer.
Karanji Special Masala Paan
This is the paan with a Maharashtrian twist, wherein the filling is sealed in a betel leaf with a karanji-shaped design. A paan connoisseur, Amer Mohammad, said, The freshness and flavour of this paan remains for a long time and the evenly crafted karanji design displays the skill of the maker.
Source: Times of India
BDST: 1659 HRS, AUG 31, 2015
Edited by: Sharmina Islam, Lifestyle Editor
