Piper Betel Leaf or Paan leaf dehydration and sorting in a natural microwave - Meerut Paan

From the archive record

Paan is consumed in India in a number of areas for its contribution to digestion, stimulating and psychoactive effects. Paan is prepared from the Betel leaf or Paan Pata (Piper betel) with lime or chuna and betel nut or areca nut. Paan also holds a religious and cultural significance in some parts of India. But how much do we know about the intricate technique of preserving the leaves to avoid loss after harvest? This is filmed at a household in meerut where the house has a dehydration room which is like a microwave to improve the quality and the shelf life of the pan leaves. This wholesale paan pata seller explains the quality parameters and the prices of each quality of betel leaves. Notice how quick his hands are while sorting and binding the betel leaves. The leaves here look a bit yel