>Dihcro at 20:58, 3 July 2021

2021-07-03T20:58:41Z

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{{short description|Leaf of the banana plant}}
[[File:Banana leaf close up.jpg|thumb|right|Banana leaf]]
[[File:Pepes ikan emas (pais lauk mas) Sunda.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Carp]] [[pepes]]'', carp fish cooked with spices in a banana leaf.]]
[[File:Making of Banana Leaf Plates which Replace Plastic as a Climate Solution.jpg|thumb|Making of banana leaf plates which replace plastic as a waste solution]]

The '''banana leaf''' is the [[leaf]] of the [[banana plant]], which may produce up to 40 leaves in a growing cycle.<ref name="sfgate">{{cite news |title=Why Won't a Banana Plant's Leaves Open? |url=https://homeguides.sfgate.com/wont-banana-plants-leaves-open-87057.html |access-date=5 January 2020 |work=[[SFGate]] |language=en}}</ref> The leaves have a wide range of applications because they are large, flexible, waterproof and decorative. They are used for cooking, wrapping,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nace |first1=Trevor |title=Thailand Supermarket Ditches Plastic Packaging For Banana Leaves |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2019/03/25/thailand-supermarket-uses-banana-leaves-instead-of-plastic-packaging/amp/ |access-date=2019-03-26 |work=Forbes |date=2019-03-25}}</ref> and food-serving in a wide range of cuisines in tropical and subtropical areas. They are used for decorative and symbolic purposes in numerous [[Hindu]] and [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] ceremonies. In traditional homebuilding in tropical areas, roofs and fences are made with dry banana-leaf thatch.<ref name=Molina>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bw8Ow1H_OocC&pg=PA84 |title=Advancing banana and plantain R & D in Asia and the Pacific |page=84 |author=Molina, A.B. |author2=Roa, V.N. |author3=Van den Bergh, I. |author4=Maghuyop, M.A. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212184856/https://books.google.com/books?id=Bw8Ow1H_OocC&pg=PA84 |archive-date=2017-12-12 }}</ref> Banana and [[palm leaves]] were historically the primary writing surfaces in many nations of South and Southeast Asia.

==Applications in cuisine==
[[File:Steamed rice in banana leaf.jpg|thumb|Steamed rice wrapped inside banana leaf to enhance its aroma and aesthetic]]
Banana leaves are large, flexible, and waterproof.<ref>[http://www.templeofthai.com/food/fresh/frozenbananaleaf-1000000257.php Frozen Banana Leaf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630003824/http://www.templeofthai.com/food/fresh/frozenbananaleaf-1000000257.php |date=2012-06-30 }}, Temple of Thai Food Store</ref> They impart an aroma to food that is cooked in or served on them; steaming with banana leaves imparts a subtle sweet flavour and aroma to the dish.<ref>[http://frogmom.com/2012/03/black-cod-steamed-in-banana-leaves-with-thai-marinade/ Black Cod Steamed in Banana Leaves with Thai Marinade] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622081237/http://frogmom.com/2012/03/black-cod-steamed-in-banana-leaves-with-thai-marinade/ |date=2012-06-22 }}, Frog Mom</ref> The leaves are not themselves eaten and are discarded after the contents are consumed.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

Besides adding flavour, the leaves keep juices in and protect food from burning, much as foil does.<ref name=morton>{{cite web|url=http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/banana.html#Other%20Uses |title=Banana |publisher=Hortpurdue.edu |access-date=2009-04-16| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090415160027/http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/banana.html| archive-date= 15 April 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> In [[Tamil Nadu]] (India) leaves are fully dried and used as packing material for foodstuffs, and are also made into cups to hold liquids. The dried leaves are called 'Vaazhai-ch- charugu' (வாழைச் சருகு) in Tamil. Some South Indian, Filipino and Khmer recipes use banana leaves as a wrapper for frying. The leaves are later removed. In Vietnamese cuisine, banana leaves are used to wrap foods such as ''[[cha-lua]]''.

==Worldwide cuisine by country==

===In Indian cuisine===
[[File:Lunch from Karnataka on a plantain leaf.jpg|thumb|right|Food served on a banana leaf in [[Karnataka]], [[India]].]]
[[South Indian cuisine]] & [[Bengali cuisine]] is traditionally served on a banana leaf, especially in the states of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Telangana]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Karnataka]], [[Kerala]], [[Odisha]], [[West Bengal]] and also in the Northern and Eastern parts of [[Sri Lanka]]. In these regions, it is customary to serve food on a banana leaf during festive occasions, and banana is often a part of the food served. In Maharashtra, on special occasions like [[Ganesh chaturthi]], people eat off banana leaves. The banana leaf is also used for wrapping fish, which can then be steamed.

In [[Bengali cuisine]], banana leaf is used to prepare Paturi, which is marinated and seasoned boneless fresh fish steamed and cooked inside a banana leaf and eaten on it. Commonly, [[Bhetki]] and [[Ilish]] are used in making Paturi. Bengali cuisine also have a great significance & sacred believe for having meal on a banana leaf.

===In Indonesian cuisine===
[[File:Chicken satay on banana leaf in Java.jpg|thumb|right|Chicken [[satay]] served in ''pincuk'', a banana leaf cone-shaped plate.]]
[[File:Wrapped lontong.jpg|thumb|Unwrapped lontong. Different colors depend on the banana leaf which is used as the wrapper.]]
In [[Indonesian cuisine]], banana leaf is employed in cooking methods called ''[[pepes]]'' and ''[[botok]]''; the banana-leaf packets of food are steamed, boiled, or grilled on charcoal. Banana leaves are also used to wrap several kinds of snacks ''[[kue]]'' (delicacies), such as ''[[nagasari]]'' or ''kue pisang'' and ''[[otak-otak]]'', and also to wrap pressed sticky-rice delicacies such as ''[[lemper]]'' and ''[[lontong]]''.

In Java, banana leaf is also used as a shallow conical bowl called ''"pincuk"'', usually to serve ''[[rujak]] tumbuk, [[pecel]]'' or [[satay]]. The ''pincuk'' secured with ''lidi semat'' (small thorn-like pins made from the coconut-leaf midrib). The ''pincuk'' fit in the left palm, while the right hand is used to consume the food. It also functions as a traditional disposable take-away food container. The cleaned banana leaf is often used as a placemat; cut banana-leaf sheets placed on rattan, bamboo or clay plates are used to serve food. Decorated and folded banana leaves on woven bamboo plates are used as serving trays, ''[[tumpeng]]'' rice cones, and holders for ''jajan pasar'' or ''[[kue]]'' delicacies.

===In Malaysian and Singaporean cuisine===
In [[Malaysian cuisine|Malaysian]] and [[Singapore cuisine]], banana leaves are used to wrap certain [[kuih]] and [[otak-otak]]. Malay foods such as [[nasi lemak]] are also commonly wrapped with banana leaves before being wrapped with newspaper, as banana leaves add fragrance to the rice.

===In Philippine cuisine===
[[File:Cassava Suman.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Suman (food)|Sumang kamoteng kahoy]]'' ([[cassava]] ''suman''), wrapped in banana leaves.]]
Banana leaves are the traditional method of serving food in [[Philippine cuisine]], with rice and other dishes laid out on large banana leaves (a ''salo-salo'', reminiscent of a [[buffet]]) and everyone partaking using their bare hands (''kamayan'').<ref name="nol">{{cite web|url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/115686/have-filipino-food-will-travel/|title=Have Filipino food, will travel|author=Elizabeth Ann Quirino|date=16 December 2014|publisher=Inquirer|access-date=6 January 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220233242/http://globalnation.inquirer.net/115686/have-filipino-food-will-travel/|archive-date=20 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="nash">{{cite web|url=http://www.nashvillescene.com/bites/archives/2014/12/11/authentic-filipino-food-comes-to-nashville-for-one-night-salo-project-pop-up|title=Authentic Filipino Food Comes to Nashville for One-Night SALO Project Pop-Up|author=Margaret Littman|publisher=Nola Defender|access-date=6 January 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106081631/http://www.nashvillescene.com/bites/archives/2014/12/11/authentic-filipino-food-comes-to-nashville-for-one-night-salo-project-pop-up|archive-date=6 January 2015}}</ref> Another traditional method of serving food is by placing it on a banana-leaf liner placed over a woven ''bilao'' (a [[winnowing|winnowing basket]] made of bamboo). The ''bilao'' is normally a farm implement used for removing [[chaff]] from grains, although there are now smaller woven trays or carved wooden plates of the same kind in Filipino restaurants used specifically for serving food.<ref name="bilao">{{cite web|url=http://thehungrygiant.net/tag/bilao/|title=What I Ate @ Eureka (Palmeras)|date=5 January 2012|publisher=The Hungry Giant|access-date=6 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106080138/http://thehungrygiant.net/tag/bilao/|archive-date=6 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="bilao2">{{cite web|url=http://luntianlaboratory.com/green/bilao-uses/|title=Uses of Bilao, Round Bamboo Tray|publisher=Luntian Laboratory|access-date=6 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106081934/http://luntianlaboratory.com/green/bilao-uses/|archive-date=6 January 2015}}</ref> Banana leaves are also commonly used in wrapping food (''binalot''), and are valued for the aroma they impart to the food.<ref name="giard">{{cite web|url=http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/1054323/chicken-pork-adobo-rice-banana-leaves-recipe|title=Savor the Philippines with this lunch wrapped in banana leaves|author=Rowena Dumlao-Giardina|date=28 October 2014|publisher=SheKnows|access-date=6 January 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106095219/http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/1054323/chicken-pork-adobo-rice-banana-leaves-recipe|archive-date=6 January 2015}}</ref> Specific Philippine dishes that use banana leaves include ''[[Suman (food)|suman]]'' and ''[[bibingka]]''.<ref name="bibi">{{cite web|url=http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/12/22/christmas-it-s-really-more-fun-in-the-philippines/|title=Christmas: It’s really more fun in the Philippines|author=Maan D'Asis Pamaran|date=22 December 2014|publisher=Manila Standard Today|access-date=6 January 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106081812/http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/12/22/christmas-it-s-really-more-fun-in-the-philippines/|archive-date=6 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="sum">{{cite web|url=http://panlasangpinoy.com/2010/12/27/suman-sa-lihiya/|title=Suman sa Lihiya|author=Vanjo Merano|date=27 December 2010|publisher=Panlasang Pinoy|access-date=6 January 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106082947/http://panlasangpinoy.com/2010/12/27/suman-sa-lihiya/|archive-date=6 January 2015}}</ref>

===In Polynesian cuisine===
The [[Hawaii]]an [[kalua|imu]] is often lined with banana leaves.

===In Caribbean and Mexican cuisine===
Guanimos are [[Culture of the Dominican Republic|Dominican]] tamales made with cornmeal, stuffed with ground meat and wrapped with banana leaves.

In [[Puerto Rico]] ''[[pasteles]]'' are made primarily with fresh green banana dough stuffed with pork, and then wrapped in banana leaves which have been softened at the fire. Many rice dishes in Puerto Rico are cooked with banana leaves as a lid to add flavor and aroma. Fish and pork shoulder can be wrapped in plantain leaves and baked. ''[[Guanime]]s'' known as Puerto Rican tamales, cornmeal cooked with coconut milk and other ingredients, are wrapped in banana leaves. Sweet cassava tortillas and Puerto Rican [[arepa]]s are laid on banana leaves for a few hours before cooking.

[[Mexico|Mexican]], and more specifically [[Oaxaca]]n [[tamale]]s and a local variety of lamb or [[barbacoa]] [[taco]]s are often [[steaming|steamed]] in banana leaves. Banana leaves are used for wrapping pork in the traditional Yucatán dish [[Cochinita pibil]].

===In Central American cuisine===
[[File:Nacatamales in steamer.jpg|thumb|Nacatamales ready to be steamed]]
[[Vigorón]]' is a traditional [[Nicaragua|Nicaraguan]] dish. It consists of a cabbage salad known as ''[[curtido]]'' (chopped cabbage, tomatoes, onions, and chile peppers marinated in vinegar and salt), boiled [[Cassava|yuca]], and [[chicharron]]es (fried pork with skin or with meat), wrapped in Banana leaf.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whats4eats.com/vegetables/vigoron-recipe |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-06-27 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130924114158/http://www.whats4eats.com/vegetables/vigoron-recipe |archive-date=2013-09-24 }}</ref> Variations of this dish are also found in [[Costa Rica]].

[[Vaho]] (or Baho) is a mix of meat, green [[Cooking plantain|plantains]] and yuca cooked in banana leaves.[[File:Baho.jpg|thumb|Traditional Nicaraguan Vajo]]

[[Tamale|Tamales]] made throughout Central America are traditionally wrapped in banana leaves prior to cooking, which imparts a distinctive taste to the [[nixtamalization|nixtamalized]] [[maize|corn]] dough.

[[Nacatamal]] is made up mostly of nixtamalized corn ''masa'' (a kind of [[dough]] traditionally made from a process called ''nizquezar'') and [[lard]], but also includes seasonings such as salt and ''achiote'' (annatto). Filling consists of seasoned pork meat, rice, a slice of [[potato]], [[bell pepper]], [[tomato]], [[onion]], [[olive]]s, [[cilantro]] and/or spearmint sprigs, and on occasion, though less commonly, capers, raisins or fresh [[chile pepper|chile]] (red or green), all wrapped in banana leaves. This dish is traditional to Nicaragua.

===In Ecuadorian cuisine===
Coast side region prepare dishes as [[Bollo]], green plantain and peanut butter batter filled with fish or pork wrapped in a banana leaf, this is then baked in a brick oven or steamed. [[Manabí Province|Manabi]] province prepare a dish called [[Tonga]] a chicken stew with rice dyed with achiote and peanut salsa, all this served on a banana leaf and then wrapped. Amazonian provinces has [[Maito]] where grilled fish is served with yucca and rice, wrapped in a banana leaves.

=== Other uses ===
Banana leaves have also been proposed as a material out of which to make trays for [[Airline meal|airline meals]], to reduce their environmental impact.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rueb|first=Emily S.|date=2019-10-11|title=Airline Food Waste Is a Problem. Can Banana Leaves Be Part of the Solution? (Published 2019)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/11/us/airline-cabin-waste.html|access-date=2021-02-17|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==In tradition and religion==
[[File:Prasadam on banana leaves.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Prasad]]am'' offered on banana leaves after [[Puja (Hinduism)|''Puja'']] at a home in [[Guntur]], [[India]].]]
Banana leaves are used by Hindus and Buddhists as a decorative element for special functions, marriages, and ceremonies in southern [[India]] and [[Southeast Asia]]. [[Balinese Hinduism|Balinese Hindu]] prepared banana leaf as the container for floral offerings called ''[[Canang sari|canang]]'' dedicated for [[hyang]] (spirits or deities) and gods. These floral offerings were placed in various places around the house.

In [[Upper Myanmar]], the banana leaf is used in handcrafting an elaborate multi-tiered offertory known as [[Kundaung|phetsein kundaung]] (ဖက်စိမ်းကွမ်းတောင်). In [[Thailand]], banana leaf is used to create an offering bowl called ''krathong'', it is an important element during traditional festival of ''[[Loy Krathong]]'' day. Thai people will celebrate this on the full-moon day of the twelfth lunar month.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url =http://magazine.culture.go.th/newbook/book/other/loy.pdf|title =ลอยกระทง|date =October 2014|author =Department of Cultural Promotion, Ministry of Culture|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123846/http://magazine.culture.go.th/newbook/book/other/loy.pdf|archive-date =2016-03-04|access-date =2015-10-26}}</ref> The celebration was meant to pay respect to the Mother of Water called ''Phra Mae Kong Kha'' by floating a ''krathong'' on a body of water.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url = http://www.sahavicha.com/?name=knowledge&file=readknowledge&id=3878|title = ภูมิปัญญาไทยกับงานใบตอง|date = 10 May 2011|last = Seamlaem|first = S|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072434/http://www.sahavicha.com/?name=knowledge&file=readknowledge&id=3878|archive-date = 4 March 2016}}</ref> Other Asian countries also shares this similar festival such as; Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, India and China.<ref name=":0" /> ''Krathong'' means lotus-shaped vessel like a leave bowl made of banana leaves and flowers with joss sticks and a candle in the middle. During Loy Krathong festival, people carry their ''krathongs'' to the river. After lighting candles and three joss sticks and making a wish, they will gently place their ''krathongs'' on the water and let them drift away.<ref name=":0" /> People believed that ''krathongs'' will carry their wickedness and bad luck away, and after that happiness will come to them. In fact, it is the time to be happy as the sufferings are floated away and a time to enjoy dancing, singing, or activities with other people. People use banana leaves to make ''krathongs'' because it is organic material, natural and would decompose easily.<ref name=":1" />

==As a writing surface==
{{see also|Palm-leaf manuscript}}
Banana and palm leaves were historically the primary writing surface in many nations of South and Southeast Asia. This has influenced the evolution of their scripts. The rounded letters of many of the [[Brahmic scripts|scripts of southern India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia]] such as [[Oriya script|Oriya]] and [[Sinhala script|Sinhala]], [[Burmese script|Burmese]], and [[Javanese alphabet|Javanese]], for example, are thought to have been influenced by this: Sharp angles and tracing straight lines along the vein of the leaf with a sharp writing implement would risk splitting the leaf and ruining the surface, so rounded letters, or letters with straight lines only in the vertical or diagonal direction, were required for practical daily use.<ref>Sanford Steever, 'Tamil Writing', in Daniels & Bright, ''The World's Writing Systems'', 1996, p. 426</ref>

In such situations, the ribs of the leaves function as the dividing lines of [[ruled paper]], separating lines of text. It is believed that this was so influential in the development of the [[rongorongo]] script of Easter Island that the more elaborate wood tablets were fluted to imitate the surface of a banana leaf.<ref>{{cite book |author=Barthel, Thomas S. |author-link=Thomas Barthel |year=1971 |title=Pre-contact Writing in Oceania | series = [http://www.sign-lang.uni-hamburg.de/BibWeb/LiDat.acgi?ID=39343 Current Trends in Linguistics] |volume=8 |pages=1169 |location=Den Haag, Paris |publisher=[[Walter de Gruyter|Mouton]] }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Patravali]], a dried leaf eating plate
* [[Banana leaf rice]]
* ''[[Strelitzia]]'', a bird of paradise plant with similarly shaped leaves.
* ''[[Cochinita pibil]]'', a Yucatán Mexican dish that wraps pork in banana leaves.
* ''[[Puto]]'', ''[[Bibingka]]'', and ''[[Suman (food)|Suman]]'', Filipino rice cakes which are traditionally wrapped in banana leaves.

==References==
{{reflist|40em}}

{{Banana}}

{{Culinary wrappings}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Banana Leaf}}
[[Category:Banana leaf| ]]
[[Category:Objects used in Hindu worship]]
[[Category:Writing media]]
[[Category:Indian culture]]
[[Category:Desi culture]]
[[Category:Bananas in culture]]

Banana leaf - Revision history

>Dihcro at 20:58, 3 July 2021