Pandan leaves – Aromatic mosquito repellent

                

                We have learned that  keeping Pandan leaves (Fragrant Pandan or Pandanus Amaryllifolius or La Dua in Vietnamese) indoor is very helpful with keeping mosqito's away. Noah’s Club has been trying out this method and the result is quite pleasant. Leaving a strong, sweet fragance in your rooms, pandan leaves can help repelling pests and some insects. Fresh leaves are preferred, since the dried ones lose their aromatic qualities.

                Pandan leaves come from the Pandanus amaryllifolius plant, a tropical member of the screwpine genus native to southeast Asia. This shrubby perennial plant has fan-shaped clusters of long, narrow leaves that produce a strong smell when wilted. Fresh pandan leaves have little odor. This plant has historically been used in cooking and to make household items such as baskets. Pandan leaves also contain compounds that repel some species of cockroaches and are a traditional insect repellent. They contain several repellent chemicals, including 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP). Pandan leaves produce a diuretic effect when consumed in large quantities. 

                They are also used in treating some skin conditions. Traditional medicine practitioners use the roots of this plant as an anti-diabetic treatment. Pandan leaves' strong, sweet smell makes them a desirable ingredient in perfumes and other scented cosmetics.

                They are very easy to be found in a local market or you may find them in your garden!