Friday 29th of March 2024
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   Op-ed
Tale of Date Molasses
  Date : 29-03-2024

Md Billal Hossen

Winter has come to Bengal with the change of days. It is a time of change in people`s lives. Winter is really the beginning of the Nabanna festival. The smell of eating pitha-puli spreads in every village. In modern times, winter cakes are now found at street corners. In fact, the most memorable food in winter is date molasses. Although date juice is not available in all districts, date juice is available in some districts of South Bengal in winter. The highest production of date juice is in Jessore, Chuadanga, Jhenaidah, Faridpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Kushtia and Magura districts. While crossing the Dhaka-Khulna highway, rows and rows of date palms were seen on the side of the road. By the 1940s, the industry had spread rapidly in the greater Faridpur district, which has brought fame to these districts in date juice production.

Date juice is mainly extracted from date palms. The leaves and stalks at the very top of the tree stem are cleaned towards the end of Agrahayan before collecting the sap. The soft part of the stem is removed with a sharp knife or scraper. After seven to eight days it is re-cleaned or shaved. In the cleaned part, small holes are made and bamboo pipes are buried. So that the juice can come out in the tube. Then two poles are buried on either side of the tube which is used for hanging earthen pots. The barrier rope in the pot is tied to two poles and hung along the tube so that the juice flows straight through the tube into the pot. The juice is divided into three parts based on the duration of juice extraction, namely, Jiraan, Dokat and Jhara juice. Squeeze the juice that is available on the first night. Thus, the juice that is available on the second and third day is called Dokat and Jhara juice. The amount of date juice depends on the weather. If the weather is cold and clean, the juice is more. Although juice extraction starts in November, the highest amount of juice is available in January.

Those who collect date juice and cut down trees are called Ganchi. These person collect the juice every morning and bring it to the pot. The juice is then strained. The filtered juice is poured into a large tin or pan or tafala and given fuel. In this way the juice becomes thicker as you continue to burn. If it is denser, it is called Jhola molasses. In addition, different shapes of Pataligur are made with this thick molasses. According to the type of molasses, this molasses is divided into Jhola molasses, Danagur, Pataligur and Chitagur. Date juice and molasses are very tasty. This molasses is used to make a variety of traditional cakes or dishes in our country which are incomparable in taste and smell. Some of the foods are vapapitha, payes, kheer, dudh chitui pitha, dudh puli pitha, palm pitha, molasses jilapi, semai, sherbat, molasses tea etc. However, the best food made with this molasses in Bangladesh is steamed cake. As soon as the new paddy grows in the farmer`s house, steamed pitha is made with that rice. Sitting by the oven on a foggy morning or on a cold night is like eating the steamed cake in your mother`s hand is the best love in the world. In addition, in the winter, a small bhapa pitha shop is set up in the alleys of the city from where the people of the city also satisfy their cravings. This molasses is as delicious as it is nutritious. Some important nutrients are highlighted.

This molasses is perfect for those who are afraid of sweets like yam. Because this molasses is made in a completely natural process and no hydrose or other chemicals are added to whiten it, its color and taste remain intact. This molasses is brown in appearance and very healthy. So anyone can eat this molasses for sure. In addition, this molasses is not refined, so it is 100% safe.

Most of the time in winter the skin is uneven. According to experts, regular consumption of this molasses will increase the radiance of the skin and the skin will be smooth. Because it contains various vitamins and minerals. People who have rashes and acne on their face can also eat this molasses.

Who has been suffering from constipation for a long time. This molasses is a great solution for them. If one consumes molasses regularly, the enzymes used in the digestive process in his body will be activated and the elimination process will be accelerated so that constipation will be reduced easily. A piece of patali after lunch will easily solve this serious problem for you.

This molasses acts as a natural cleanser for the body. Eating it regularly helps to get rid of toxins present in our liver. So it can be said that this molasses detoxifies our liver.

Winter actually increases the incidence of pneumonia, flu, cold, cough and fever. The solution to all these problems is molasses. If one eats a piece of date molasses with lukewarm water, all the problems related to cold will be removed in an instant. Moreover, you can eat this molasses instead of sugar with tea.

The most well-known benefit of date molasses is that it acts as a blood cleanser. Regular and moderate consumption of this molasses will easily cleanse our blood and reduce the chances of getting disease.

These molasses contain natural antioxidants and minerals such as zinc and selenium that soothe your body`s free radicals and reduce the risk of serious diseases such as cancer. Above all, it plays a special role in boosting the body`s immune system.

Pregnant women in particular suffer from a disease called anemia. This disease mainly occurs when the body is deficient in iron and folic acid. This molasses contains a lot of iron and folate which are the main compounds for making hemoglobin which is the main component of blood. The more hemoglobin is produced, the more blood will be produced in the body. As a result, anemia will be eliminated.

Moreover, this molasses contains minerals called sodium and potassium which controls blood pressure. Helps reduce pain in bone joints.

There are many who work in overly contaminated areas. This molasses is a natural cleanser for cleansing their body. This molasses removes contaminated waste from their bodies.

One of the most important minerals in this molasses is potassium which will help you to control your weight. As a result you will get relief from obesity. So you can understand how nutritious this traditional food is.

We need to act from grass-root level to retain this valuable heritage. Let’s stand beside “Ganchi” and helps to sustain date molasses.

Author: Student Department of Applied Nutrition and Food Technology at IU.



  
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