Various species of the genus Pandanus grow in tropical areas of Asia, Australia and the Pacific; one of those has aromatic leaves used as spice.
The species that yields the aromatic kewra water is P. Odoratissimus. Which grows in huge range alongside the Indian East coast. Along the Indian West coast and Sri Lanka, It is also found, in lesser portions. Further inland, it becomes rarer, but scattered specimen develop all over the plains of the Eastern half of North India. Which includes the lowland of Nepal (Terai).
Some take into account P. Odoratissimus an aromatic subspecies of P. Tectorius Parkinson.
Read more about flowers in Sitapur/Uttapradesh.
Cultivation Of Pandanus
Cultivation of P. Odoratissimus is nearly confined to the Indian union nation Orissa, more precicely, the Ganjam district in Southern Orissa. The flowers, which can be most ample for the duration of the monsoon season, are havested early in the morning, as they lose their perfume speedy after commencing.
Flowering Pandanus is an evergreen climber with stems that may grow 5 ft or more. Kewra is a species of fragrant flowering trees which is found in many countries and grows in dense forests. There are two species of this tree with thin, long, dense and spiny leaves – white and yellow. White race is called Kevda and Yellow is called Ketki. Ketaki is very fragrant and its leaves are soft.
It flowers in January and February. This fragrance of Kevda attracts snakes a lot. They also make perfume which is used in sweets and drinks. After keeping the catechu in the flower of Kevda and making it fragrant, it is used in paan. The greens of the pulp located inside the kevda are also made. Its trees are found abundantly in the Sundarbans delta of the Ganges River.
Uses
Today Kevda is being sprinkled in many stuff, from food to consuming gadgets to aromatic substances, it’s miles being carried out in big quantities. Kewra water is used in the shape of lotions, food, for chocolates, syrups, tender beverages, for aroma. Kewra oil is not any much less than a boon for the sufferers of headache and gout.