A family meal seldom ends the moment you take away the plates. Someone’s bound to call for more, request dessert, or ask for a small bowl of saunf or a sweet paan to share. These post-meal sweets may seem casual, but they hold countless fond memories, especially in Indian households.
In a traditional paan corner, you can find an array of sweet treats that carry the familiar fragrance and flavours of sweet paan, gulkand and some fennel seeds.
The Familiar Flavours After Dinner
Every family has its own favourite. Some reach for plain fennel seeds, while others like the sweet, colourful variety served at restaurants and celebrations. Spiced mints are another easy favourite when a fresh, slightly cooling taste is preferred.
There is also something quite nice about keeping these things on the table. Nobody really needs a formal dessert. A small bowl of mouth freshener passed around while everyone continues talking can be enough to finish the meal.
Gulkand Brings A Touch Of Sweetness
Gulkand has a rich rose flavour and a sweet, velvety texture. For many, a gulkand-filled paan represents a treat relished at weddings and family gatherings, or at a restaurant dinner. A good paan corner typically has a range of options so that customers can choose between milder and sweeter varieties of paan.
Fennel Seeds Never Go Out Of Style
Fennel seeds are probably one of the easiest post meal favourites to keep at home. They can be served just as they are or mixed with sugar coated seeds for a sweeter finish. Spiced mints are handy for the same reason. They are small, easy to store and bring a burst of flavour after a particularly filling meal.
Stocking Up Without A Separate Shopping Trip
Finding these familiar ingredients does not have to mean making a special trip to the market. An online grocery delivery app can make it quite simple to order fennel seeds, gulkand, mints and other pantry favourites along with the regular household shopping.
It is especially useful before a family gathering, when the kitchen is already busy. An online grocery delivery app is also a good reminder for the smaller things that you may have forgotten.
Sweet Paan For The Final Bite
There is no surprise that sweet paan has been around for ages, since no one can seem to get enough of it. The combination of ingredients like betel leaf, gulkand, fennel and more simply cannot be replaced. Some like them mild, while others like extra gulkand or coconut added in.
Picking up a few from a trusted paan corner can be an easy way to add something different to a family dinner. It does not have to be saved for a wedding or special occasion either.
Keeping An Old Tradition Alive
Post meal mouth fresheners are an acquired taste, but they hold a special place in Indian households for being convenient, relatable and nostalgic. With an online grocery delivery app, you can stock up on your paan favourites like fennel seeds, gulkand and spiced mints without any effort. And for something more indulgent, a trip to your local paan corner is always a good idea.