Our Earth’s environment plays an important in producing and nurturing the life. Upon changes in the environment may create critical impact on the living organism on our mother earth. Plastic and plastic made things are one of the major pollutant which are impacting not only land but also on water creatures. Plastic and Thermocol (Polystyrene) is used to produce the plastic bags, use and throw bowls and plates which are widely used at grocery stores, on roadside small food joints and at wedding or any social gathering events. This article consists information on how can Tree Leaves Used as Plates and bowls for eating with its environment and health benefits.
This plastic bags, Bowls, Spoons, plates and similar cutlery items are abandoned and not properly disposed-off and become a plastic and thermocol garbage as it can last long up to 1000+ years. Modern society is also trying to reduce such harmful plastic waste, and surprisingly our ancestors has already used natural available material such as tree and grass to concert then and made useful materials, such as making plates and bowls from tree leaves and glasses from mud, bamboo and woods. Our ancient traditions of using tree leaves for making plates which after use can be easily dissolved in natural was the best one, and can help to reduce pollution.
The traditional usage of tree leaves as plates:
Across many cultures worldwide including southeast Asia, India, Africa and some part of Latin America, tree leaves were used to make food places and general cooking. Let’s know more about such leaves as below.
- Banana Leaves:
One of the most popular and widely used leaves in India and worldwide for eating are banana leaves. Many parts of world, mainly in coastal part’s banana leaves are used popularly. Banana leaves are high in strong fibbers which protects from wear and tear during serving and eating.
Benefits: Banana leaves are high in antioxidant which is known for antibacterial and health friendly nature. Banana leaves have its own ambient fragrance which enhances the joy during eating food on banana leaves.
Usage: Banana leaves are generally used in southern part of India on festivals such as Onam festival for Onam Sandhya food.
- Areca Palm Leaves (Betel Nut Leaves)
A place and bowl made with using Areca palm are popular in many parts of South Asia including India. Areca palm leaves are naturally degradable and strong in nature so they can be easily used to make plates and bowls for food serving. Areca palm leaves are durable and can hold curry or heavy food items which makes them more ideal for making food serving plates. Areca palm leaves are used to serve Pani Puri and chat food items due to their water and moisture resistant, and are also used in traditional rituals.
- Taro leaves
Taro leaves are commonly found in tropical and subtropical parts of India and other south eastern countries These leaves are used for coking as well as serving food. Taro leaves are rich in nutrients and have natural anti-micro bacterial properties. This leaves also adds a unique taste and aroma to the food which is cooked using It. Thick texture and strong fibers of taro leaves make them a best dish to serve gravy or sauce. Taro leaves are majorly used in south eastern states of India including Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura states to prepare before cooking wrap food such as pitha or zutho etc.
- Mango Leaves
Mango leaves have Ayurveda medicinal importance due to their antioxidant properties. Mango leave is commonly used in decoration and small potion snacks and prasad offerings in Indian tradition. Mango tree leaves are used to make plates and bowls during religious ceremonies to serve food, especially in rural India. Eating on mango leaves plates helps in better digestion and reduced inflammation. Mango leaves are used to serve sweet food and small portion snacks items and light snacks during Diwali or Ganesh Chaturthi festivals in India.
- Sal Leaves
Sal tree leaves are commonly found in forest of Central and Eastern India and many Asian countries, particularly in state of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Sal leaves are easily biodegradable, large in size and with strong fiber which make them ideal to make plates and bowl for food and curry servings. Sal leaves plates are used to serve rice, curry and non-curry vegetables and sweets.
These above natural tree leaves are often used in food serving on various social gatherings, ceremonies, festivals and daily meals.
Health benefits of using tree leave plates for food eating:
There are many health benefits of eating on plates and bowl using leaves.
- Natural Antioxidants: Tree leaves including banana and palm leaves are rich in antioxidants. Leaves contains compounds which neutralize free radicals in our body, and reduce the risk of chronic disease including heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
- No-Chemical Utensils: Tree leaves are natural and are best than plastic plates and utensils which contains harmful chemicals such as CPA and phthalates and synthetic toxins. Utensils made with tree leaves are more natural and easy biodegradable which makes them nature friendly.
- Improved Digestion: Banana and taro leaves have natural digestion enhancer enzymes which promotes better digestive health if those are used to eat food routinely.
- Antibacterial Properties: Tree leaves such as Banana and mango tree have natural antibacterial properties. This can help to reduce the growth of bacteria on food and also provide better food digestion.
Environmental Benefits of using Natural Tree leaves for food eating:
Using tree leaves instead of plastic and thermacol based plates and bowl helps in not only reduce the manufacturing related environmental loss, but are also easy to biodegrade and healthy for users.
- Eco Friendly and Sustainability: Tree leaves are easily biodegradable and easily composts in few weeks and reduces the water and land pollution which is created by plastic and thermocol plates.
- Reduction in Carbon Footprints: The carbon footprint of producing plastic and thermocol plates are reduced when the usage is limited and altered by the natural leave based plates and bowl.
- Compostable Waste: Tree leaves are easily composted and improve the soil natural nutrients. This synthetic fertilizer contributes the soil production quality, on the other hand plastic and thermocol damages the soil productivity.
- Support for Local Ecosystems: Locally grown tree leaves supports the regional economy and promote the rural employment and boosts the economy.
- Preservation of Traditional Practices: Using tree leaves as plates use the local culture and promotes the traditional methods of cooking and serving food with using locally available tree leaves. It promotes the traditional rituals while using tree leave plates and bowls during festivals, weddings and religious rituals.
- Improve Dining Experience: In many parts of India and South Asian Countries food served on tree leaves is more practical and traditionally important. The fresh vibrant color of leaves and natural aroma enhances the food taste and flavor and improve your eating experience.
How to use Tree Leaves for Eating:
Using tree leaves as places is a very simple thing and also may provide better eating experience. Needs to follow below practices while using Tree leaves for eating.
- Ensure the Leaves are clean: Before using tree leaves, its plates and bowl, it is important to wash them with water to remove the dirt and dust and ensures to make the hygiene before serving food on it.
- Choose the Right Leaves: Some levels are more durable, such as banana leaves, Sal Leaves and Taro leaves are more durable and are used not only wet curry and oily food. Areca nut tree leaves are best to serve dry snacks.
- Choose correct Size and Shape leaves: Depend on the food and food portion serving size, leaves are used to make plates and bowls for food serving. Smaller leaves are used to serve small portion food.
- Serving and Cooking: In some cultures, Small leaves are used to serve the Prasad a small portion of food, and also few food items are prepared by wrapping it in leaves which helps to lock the moisture and improve the flavor and aroma of food.
Traditional usage of tree leaves for making plates and bowls for food serving is not only environment friendly but also helps in promoting the tradition, improves the food taste and also benefits for better digestion and improve food eating experience. The ancient tradition of using natural products including tree leaves for food serving promotes the cultural heritage and aligned health benefits.
So if you are looking for any social gathering or function then check for the local market for availability of traditional tree leave such as banana tree and other leaves made plates and bowl to serve food and enhance your guests eating experience and promote the environment friendly product usage to safeguard the environment in which we are leaving in.
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