Daun Pandan (Screwpine Leaves)

Screwpine Tree
(Pohon Pandan)

Pandanus Amaryllifolius

The East's answer to vanilla, with a fresh green color and floral effect that is impossible to duplicate. Some chefs will include a few of leaves when making rice for the aromatic effect. Like vanilla, Daun Pandan (Screwpine Leaves) makes its greatest contribution to sweets and all kinds of little green kue (cakes and sticku rice confections).

The Screwpine Leaves don't dry will, so look for them frozen and possibly labeled with their Thai name bai toey. Or use the extract that has an intense green color partially due to added food coloring. One pandan leaf is equivalent to 2 or 3 drops of the extract.