I Love Pathaneer (பதநீர்)

Summer is approaching with the mercury levels raising everyday. On the other hand, water and electrolyte levels in our bodies are falling every hour. It is very important to keep yourself well hydrated and to maintain the electrolytic balance during summer season to avoid a lot of health problems and tiredness. So here is a sweet and affordable solution from Mother Nature! Pathaneer!

What is Pathaneer?

Pathaneer is a sweet beverage extracted usually from palm trees (sometimes also from coconut trees, but in Tamil Nadu, they are almost always from palm trees). It is a non-alcoholic beverage. But without proper preservation techniques, fermentation will kick in due to airborne yeast/bacteria, which will turn it in to alcoholic toddy. Pathaneer has a unique taste, which is predominantly sweet with a hint of astringent taste. It a translucent, white, watery liquid in pure form.

How it Is Extracted?

Pathaneer is collected overnight from palm trees by scrapping/cutting the tender spathes on top of the tree and keeping a collection pot. Usually the collection pots are coated with calcium carbonate to reduce the risk of fermentation. Tree climbers climb the trees during evening and prepare for the collection. Before daybreak, they again climb the trees and collect the Pathaneer as raising temperatures after sunrise may accelerate fermentation. They may need to climb 40 to 50 trees every day and most of the times, they work overnight. At this point, I take pride in remembering my ancestors who were such tree climbers (toddy tappers). That might be a job forced on them; but still, they didn't cheat or steal or forced others in to slavery!

Health Perspective

I can falsely claim that Pathaneer can cure all known diseases from hairfall to obesity. But the truth is Pathaneer is good at treating a major disease that affects almost everyone during summers. Thirst and dehydration. They may sound silly. But they can bring a host of health problems even before you become aware. Head aches, fatigue, increased blood pressure, decreased electrolyte etc can be caused by excessive sweating. So Pathaneer is an easy way to replenish the water and essential electrolytes in your body with a punch of carbs to keep you kicking throughout the day. Carbohydrates are the major nutrient, followed by calcium, phosphate, Vitamin B, Vitamin C and other trace micro-nutrients. It is surely a better choice than sugary sodas or packed fruit juices (which are nothing but chemical flavors and sugar). Only other alternate is tender coconut.

Where to Buy?

Pathaneer is packed and sold by Tamil Nadu State Palmgur Cooperative Federation in 200ml plastic pouches (like curd or milk packs). It costs around Rs. 10 and available in shops near you. They are cheaper than tender coconuts which are sold at a higher price around Rs. 30 to Rs. 40. Pathaneer packs are refrigerated and hence you can get a cool and refreshing drink without any hazardous chemical or excessive sugar for just 10 bucks. They are processed and packed to ensure that no fermentation happens and shoul be stored in optimal temperature. So don't buy if not stored in refrigerator.

What Else?

Pathaneer is just one product of palm nectar. It can be allowed to ferment to produce alcoholic beverage (toddy – கள்ளு). Fermented toddy can be distilled to produce arrack (பனஞ்சாராயம்). The nectar can be further boiled and processed to produce palmgur (கருப்பட்டி /பனைவெல்லம்), palm sugar (பனஞ்சீனி) and palm candy (பனங்கற்கண்டு). There are hell lot of other products/by products of palm tree, but they are not relevant to the Pathaneer which we are discussing here. So those who are interested can check “Additional Links” section.

An Appeal for Toddy!

I hear by humbly appeal both the Indian Government and Tamil Nadu Government to lift the ban on toddy and regularize the sale of the same as they have done with Pathaneer. If Pathaneer sales can be standardized, regularized and monitored to ensure quality, then why not toddy? Also, the government is allowing the sales of hard liquors, which contain more than 40% alcohol manufactured by corporates. But toddy contains only 4 to 5% of alcohol. By banning other liquors and allowing naturally brewed toddy, wine and beer, we can ensure that the livelihood of farmers are improved while the livelihood of drinkers are protected from excess alcohol consumption and economy drain.

Conclusion

So, enjoy Pathaneer this summer and be a proud Tamilian by drinking this palm elixir which is part of our cultural heritage. Also please appeal to government in whatever democratic ways you can to ban sales of hard liquor and allow toddy to be sold in a regularized and controlled way through cooperative societies or Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC). And when it comes to alcohol, my personal advice is to avoid it altogether than becoming an addict. Because “Perfect moderation is harder than total abstinence!” as told by St. Augustine.

Additional Links:

http://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/பனையிலிருந்து_பெறப்படும்_பயன்கள்

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neera