Pandan leaves have long been widely known in various cultures. Behind its long leaves and distinctive aroma, pandan leaves actually have a multitude of extraordinary benefits. This plant is very easy to find in home gardens and grows wild on the shady banks of waterways.
At first glance, pandan is a plant that resembles a bouquet of flowers. Pandan has leaves that are elongated and arranged closely together, are green, have a soft stem in the middle, and some varieties have serrated leaf edges.
Generally, people know pandan leaves as an important component in the cuisine of Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries. This is of course because if mixed into cooking, pandan will give off a distinctive aroma.
Various Benefits of Pandan Leaves
Although it is widely known among the community as a kitchen ingredient to make dishes delicious, it turns out that the benefits of pandan leaves are not only limited to that, you know. Below are some of the benefits of pandan leaves that are often planted in the home yard, as follows:
1. Natural Food Coloring
Pandan leaves can be said to be an alternative natural dye which is safer. Because the chlorophyll pigment content in pandan leaves can produce a natural green color.
The green color of leaves that have been blended with water is often used to add color to traditional snacks or cakes, drinks and other dishes.
This natural dye is also rich in nutrients, making it a safer alternative choice. Also, the natural color of pandan leaves is no less striking and attractive than artificial coloring when applied to your food.
2. Tasting the Cuisine
We certainly know that pandan is famous for its distinctive aroma. This distinctive aroma is usually used to add flavor to dishes and make dishes more delicious and fragrant. Pandan leaves are often used in sweet and savory dishes.
Such as in making cakes, puddings, and even compotes to give a delicious aroma that is appetizing. So, it is not surprising that pandan leaves are one of the kitchen ingredients that is often needed and cannot be replaced.
3. Beneficial for Health
Apart from having many benefits for cooking, it turns out that pandan leaves also have health benefits. With its high antioxidant content, pandan leaves can help prevent and treat various diseases.
Extracting pandan leaves into oil, powder, or drinks (pandan juice) can help relieve joint pain, treat burns, control blood sugar, prevent cancer, and even prevent heart disease.
4. Used as a Material for Making Crafts
Apart from its benefits for food and health, pandan is also one of them type of natural fiber which is often used to make various unique, high-value handicrafts.Â
Because pandan leaves have strong leaf fibers and are easy to shape. Made from natural fibers, pandan crafts are not only visually attractive, but also more environmentally friendly.
Apart from that, the products are thick with natural nuances that are unique and authentic. So, it is not surprising that handicrafts made from pandan leaves are also very popular among local and foreign people with high selling value.
Crafts from Pandan Leaf Fiber
With proper processing, pandan leaf fiber can be transformed into unique craft products that are not inferior to modern products. The following are several handicraft products made from pandan leaf fiber, including:
1. Woven Mats
Woven mats from pandan leaves is a handicraft that is quite popular and in demand, especially by young people. This is because woven pandan leaves do not only function as a base for sitting or lying on.
However, it can also give a different aesthetic impression with the presence of distinctive woven textures and motifs. So, this woven mat is suitable as decoration for the living room, family room, room, even as a mat when you have a picnic in the park.
2. Unique Pandan Leaf Sandals
Leather and cloth sandals are very popular among the public. However, what about sandals made from pandan leaf fiber? Sandals made from pandan leaf fiber offer a natural and unique impression in one product.
These sandals are also comfortable when worn, because they are lightweight but durable. So, you can look different with pandan leaf sandals, which you definitely won’t find in other types of sandals.
3. Pandan Leaf Bag
Bags made from pandan leaves are also increasingly popular as a fashion product, especially for those who are concerned towards environmental issues because this product is very environmentally friendly.
The unique woven textures and motifs, with a variety of shapes, are perfect for those of you who want to look different with a more natural style. Woven pandan leaf bags have various types, tote bags, shoulder bags, picnic bags, and so on.
4. Tissue Box
The last handicraft from pandan leaves is a tissue box. Tissue boxes are made of cloth or plastic. However, there is nothing wrong if you use tissue boxes woven from pandan fiber.
Again and again, pandan tissue boxes can give a more natural and unique impression. So, apart from being functional for storing tissues on the table, it can also act as room decoration.
That’s a review of the various benefits of pandan leaves which can be turned into handicrafts. So, are you interested in having crafts made from pandan leaves? Apart from pandan, water hyacinth crafts can also be used as an alternative to get classy but environmentally friendly crafts.
Now, if you want to have water hyacinth crafts for decoration, you can get quality products at Harmoni Kreasi. Harmoni Kreasi is a distributor of handicrafts made from natural, environmentally friendly materials. In the process, we prioritize the 3P principles: People, Profit and Planet.
So, we not only produce a variety of unique, beautiful and functional craft products. Rather, it also provides an impact positive for the environment and surrounding communities by using natural, environmentally friendly materials.
Therefore, if you want to get a variety of quality decoration products while contributing to environmental issues, craft products from Harmoni Kreasi are the choice!