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:
