[barodian]

You really can't find anything close to what you get in India. There are couple of places in bay area (Santa Clara), which does have decent pan.

In India, lot of the stuff is fresh and without any chemicals. So, that makes a huge difference. Even Indian Restaurants in the states are nothing compared to India's Restaurants. I have been to couple of restaurant which are good.

[Gardener972]

Regarding that "dehydrated stuff"... I brought home a bottle of Jaipuria's Pan Mixture from Delhi that contains: dry dates, supari, gulkand, saunf, betal leaf, & sweetener. Would someone please tell me how bad this stuff is, if it is? Also, what are those ingredients anyway?

[Amyth]

Originally Posted by Gardener972

Regarding that "dehydrated stuff"... I brought home a bottle of Jaipuria's Pan Mixture from Delhi that contains: dry dates, supari, gulkand, saunf, betal leaf, & sweetener. Would someone please tell me how bad this stuff is, if it is? Also, what are those ingredients anyway?

Dates (I assume you know ) - High in iron
Supari (Betel nut)- Carcinogenic in nature
Gulukand (Preserve of Rose petals in sugar syrup)-Good curative agent for constipation and body heat
Saunf (Aniseed)-Good digestive agent
Betal Leaf - Good diuretic agent
Sweetener - Artificial- Bad, Natural- Tasty calories

Mix of all- Waiting for your feedback!!

[Gardener972]

Such a shame it has such bad stuff in it because it tastes SO good! Well, once in awhile... Is this stuff legal in the U.S. because I haven't seen it in any stores?

[Rothrock]

Gardener972 a desi friend of mine loves the dry stuff in the bottle and thinks it is just as good as the fresh ones. I've never had it, but would like to try it.

Actually here in Portland we can find the ingredients most of the time. But none of the stores have paanwalas. The most I ever ate in one evening was five and usually like two. So the hassle of mixing up the kattha and all for just a couple isn't worth it. Maybe for my birthday.

When I was picking up some lime pickle I did ask and the lady behind the counter said that they do get a lot of requests. I'm underemployed at the moment, so maybe I should make her a business plan and rent a spot at the end of the counter?

[Gardener972]

There you go!

[Hal]

Is paan chewing becoming as unpopular as smoking? Are there versions without tobacco or betel? What's the current sentiment towards paan chewing in India?

[Nick-H]

There are certainly versions without tobacco, which is the most harmful ingredient. I think "sweet paan" is just spices, though it may or may not contain betel.

There is still a lot of it about.

[wonderwomanusa]

About once on every visit in India, I find myself at the pan wallah on Stuart Lane in Kolkata, buying a mehta pan. One is usually enough for me -- and my dentist will kill me if he ever finds out about it!

[carlaeb]

I love sweet Paan. I think it has betel in it. What is wrong with that? Is it addictive or bad for your teeth or something? I had no idea.

I used to get it all the time in Houston because the paan shop was right next to the Indian restaurant AND they had a Ms Pacman arcade in the paan shop. So it was sort of a ritual- eat Indian food, then play Ms Pacman while chewing paan.

I had no idea anyone found it gross until I came to India. lol

I think the important thing is to not spit the juices all over the place. That IS gross. And I've never had paan with tobacco in it. Yuck.

[shashank.aggarwal]

My Dentist recommends a Sweet pan a day. He himself eats it He says its good for digestion, its full of raw things, which are good for teeth.

[spicetrekker]

Originally Posted by hal2004

What's the current sentiment towards paan chewing in India?

Which India - Urban or Rural, North or South, within North - Punjab or UP.

I guess you get the point. The sentiment varies and there is no one answer. Generally speaking, Pan without tobacco is socially acceptable almost anywhere in India. In the central belt - UP, MP, Bihar and parts of WB - many people would have it with tobacco. In gujarat and maharashtra also it is popular. As far as I know, in South it is less popular but by no means absent - but traiditionally they have it without the Cathechew (hope the spelling is correct) or kattha the ingredient which gives the red colour. Generally speaking people are getting aware of the illeffects of spitting pan - makes the place looks filthy and can also spread TB

All said and done, I dont mind a good meetha Maghai pan once 2 months or so.

[PeakXV]

..... I could only describe the experience as 'interesting' and might file the resulting tastebud sensation in the 'acquired taste' category.

[Hal]

Originally Posted by carlaeb

I love sweet Paan. I think it has betel in it. What is wrong with that? Is it addictive or bad for your teeth or something?

I think betel is carcinogenic. My sister-in-law who lived in Sri Lanka for 5 years tells me she'd see guys with half their jaws missing from chewing paan and getting cancer. But maybe that's the tobacco.

Through reading Indian fiction and my (brief) experiences in India I've found there's either a love, ambivalence or a hatred of paan, as spicetrekker points out. I've heard women call it a filthy habit.

I've had it a few times and never really developed a taste for it. There's a restaurant near my house where they have a paan stand. I watch the guy make it as I wait for my food and it seems to be quite an art. Lots of ingredients and combinations. He sells about 5 types and they are sold sweet or "saada", and he also makes it to order.

[puchoo]

I dont think so...the reason being that paan is not seen by many as a bad habit..especially those who have sweet paan.

Like Shanks mentioned , it has many digestive properties.

Originally Posted by hal2004

Is paan chewing becoming as unpopular as smoking? Are there versions without tobacco or betel? What's the current sentiment towards paan chewing in India?