There have been lots of answers from Fellow Indians, none of them mentioning about Paanwalla. Although the profession is not limited to India alone. Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Phillipines and few South Asian Nations have Paanwallas.
Paan literally means a leaf. Here it points rolled betel leaf containing areca nut, sometimes tobacco, or/ and along with other additives like magnesium carbonate, dry fruits, essences & scented flavoured edibles, cloves, cardamom among others.
See image:
It is chewed for its stimulant and psychoactive effects. After chewing it is either spat out or swallowed. Paan has many variations. Slaked lime (chunnam) paste is commonly added to bind the leaves. Some South Asian preparations include katha paste or mukhwas to freshen the breath. (Source: Wikipedia.)
It comes in varieties :
Benarasi
Meetha
Kalkatti
Maggai
Numbered Paans with tobacco
Paanwalla is the person preparing & serving Paan. There is something very peculiar about this profession which has sprung at every nook and corner of Indian cities. Paanwallas' operate from a shop or a kiosk or street corners. Some of them roam around the city serving Paan round the clock. Some of them serve Paan with a poetry or phrases or jokes on the customers as well.
For a great chunk of population, a meal is incomplete without consuming a Paan and a corner point Paanwalla shop makes brisk business with a chance to gossip about the happenings.
Paan literally means a leaf. Here it points rolled betel leaf containing areca nut, sometimes tobacco, or/ and along with other additives like magnesium carbonate, dry fruits, essences & scented flavoured edibles, cloves, cardamom among others.
See image:
It is chewed for its stimulant and psychoactive effects. After chewing it is either spat out or swallowed. Paan has many variations. Slaked lime (chunnam) paste is commonly added to bind the leaves. Some South Asian preparations include katha paste or mukhwas to freshen the breath. (Source: Wikipedia.)
It comes in varieties :
Benarasi
Meetha
Kalkatti
Maggai
Numbered Paans with tobacco
Paanwalla is the person preparing & serving Paan. There is something very peculiar about this profession which has sprung at every nook and corner of Indian cities. Paanwallas' operate from a shop or a kiosk or street corners. Some of them roam around the city serving Paan round the clock. Some of them serve Paan with a poetry or phrases or jokes on the customers as well.
For a great chunk of population, a meal is incomplete without consuming a Paan and a corner point Paanwalla shop makes brisk business with a chance to gossip about the happenings.
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