A recent Boing Boing post discovers the ‘delicacy’ that is paan. Tha author of the post waxes eloquent about the dual delights that a paan has to offer… as a digestion enhancer and a breath freshner.

The Mitha Paan (I didn’t try the tobacco variety) usually has betel nut, lime paste, almond powder, grated coconut, pistachio powder, and sometime a very sweet cherry jam or chutney. The combination of all these ingredients makes for a very tasty and refreshing after dinner treat; the plant enzymes, lime paste, and mild stimulant from the betel nut acts as a digestion enhancer and breath freshener.

Makes the mouth water, doesn’t it?! Aah the joys of chewing a Mitha paan after a heavy meal!! … delightful!!

But if the westerners are going to be lured by this sweet Indian after-meal fixation, then are we going to see them painting their cities red?! ;-)