THALIR (TENDER) TheMalayalam word Thalircan have tender as an approximate meaning. When it is coming to leaf, if wepluck from plant, within seconds it would be dried. We make use tender orslightly more grown leaves of different plants in daily life.
Tender leaves of coconut trees are often used during festivals. It is called Kurutthola. Kuruttholathoran is important for certain temple festivals. Kurutthola is also used todecorating deities with suitable cutting and braiding. For sastha pooja in manyplaces kurothola has used. Christians also use tender coconut leaves on Kuruthola perunal. Tenderleaves of mango are used in many salads in countries like Thailand. I am notsure whether tender leaves of plantain are also used so there or anywhereelse. However tender plantain leaves areas delicious as tender mango leaves. In child hood days it was a habit to eatpieces of tender mango leaves plucking from the tree. In day to day use of plantain leaves fortaking food, we use well grown up leaves only. This is very special especiallyduring srardha. In Keralatender leaves elephant yam was used to prepare thoran in olden days. Similarlyof leaves of matthan (Pooshani). Thetender leaves of beat root and carrot are used in dishes when it is available.In hill station the items are available with leaves. The tender/slightly grown upleaves of coloccasia is prepared as a dish and served as medicines from MaruthoorvattamDhanvantari temple in Cherthala on specified days. Now, themost common use by us is the tenderleaves of cabbage in different dishes. The entire spinach is used indishes except its root. I do not know except spinach, any other stem is usedfor dishes. The leaves of drum stick plants are often uses in dishes similar tospinach. Yes- The coriander leaves are used, but after some growth, not whileit is too tender. Thallirkkuka means just spranging up. Many flowers we use in dishes. Best example is neem flower inTamilnadu. We can see many hotels displaying boards during neem floweringseason as “VeppampooPachhati” as a menu item for meals. The flowers of drum stick plant arealso used. Plantain flower is invariably plucked outafter full kula has come. Unless it is cut, plantain maynot grow nourish. Plantain flower is used to prepare thoran. It is normallyavailable in vegetable shops. Thoughnot used in dishes, theflower of coconut is a must (Thengin pookkula) for nair marriage. In thekathir mantapam, the pookula is spread to sides as well as to up in the Parafilled with paddy. From somewhere pookkula would be arranged to bring justbefore marriage. When itis coming to fruits, medium plantains are used for dishes. Our vatu manga is about oneweek grown mango. And our tender coconut too is slightly grown coconut fromflower. The waterof tender coconut is sweet when inside the shell the whitened coconut is hasjust appearing called vazhukkal. When it has slightly more grown the coconutwill be tender and called Vetala.When the coconut is almost grown, we use it for dishes. When it is more grown,water would not be there, it is called Kotta thenga” There is a variety ofcoconut tree called Gowripathram,the coconut will appear yellowish orange externally. This variety has morewater as tender coconut and when medium grown, the coconut mostly have nottaste. They are grown for tender coconut use. Mulaikkal (Just budding) is also a stage in which all plants have tender leaves. If the leavesare cut, the plant would get dried up. So tender leaves are used from grown upplants or trees. Thetender leaves of teak woodplant is used to cut and add to oil and applied on wounds created by adisease called Chirangu.Disease has practically disappeared now probably due to more skin care. Originally posted on 23-2-2014. Reposted afterediting and updating on 21-01-2021. R.Gopala Krishnan -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/883513027.408781.1611190145186%40mail.yahoo.com.
