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Pandan leaf

Pandan leaf is a fragrant tropical leaf used to perfume rice, desserts, drinks, and Southeast Asian savory dishes.

Pandan leaf — illustrative ingredient image

About Pandan leaf

Pandan leaf is the long, narrow, glossy green leaf of a pandan plant, valued for its distinctive sweet, floral, grassy aroma. It is used to perfume rice, coconut-based desserts, custards, syrups, drinks, and savoury dishes, rather than commonly serving as a tender vegetable.

Fresh leaves are flexible and fibrous, with a firm central vein. Their aroma is sweet, floral, and grassy, while dried or frozen leaves may provide a different intensity. Whole leaves generally remain firm during cooking and are usually removed before serving rather than eaten directly.

Fresh, frozen, and dried leaves are sold, and the leaves may also be sliced, pounded, blended, or made into an extract or paste. Knotted or folded leaves infuse aroma with limited colour; slicing or blending distributes more colour and flavour through the dish and retains more leaf material.

Ingredient type
whole food

Forms & related ingredients

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Where pandan leaf appears

21 linked foods

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Main dishes

Desserts

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for pandan leaf

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Pandan leaf

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Pandan leaf nutrition & diet

Pandan leaf nutritional value

Representative benchmark: Vegetables, not further specified

Representative nutrition benchmarkOfficial table values for a comparable food category, not a laboratory measurement of this exact ingredient.

Per 100 g of 100 g edible portion in the named official reference form.

Calories
37kcal
Protein
2.3g
Carbs
4.1g
Fat
0.4g

Representative benchmark from a comparable official food-composition category; it is not a laboratory measurement of this exact ingredient. The displayed reference form must be considered, and species, cultivar, recipe, brand, processing and preparation can change values.

Portions & preparation

Use a reference matching fresh or dried pandan leaf and clarify whether the leaf is infused, blended, juiced, or removed before serving. The edible portion can differ from the amount used for aroma. Rice, coconut preparations, desserts, drinks, and savory recipes add their own relevant ingredients.

Compare the right form: Match pandan leaf by species and state, distinguishing fresh, frozen, dried, bruised, blended, juiced, infused, or discarded leaves.

Diet considerations

Pandan leaf is plant-derived, but whether leaf material is consumed or merely used for infusion affects the relevant portion. Compatibility changes in the finished recipe through dairy, eggs, meat, seafood, or animal stock. Rice, flour, noodles, starches, sweeteners, and coatings can create different portion-dependent carbohydrate patterns.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically compatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically compatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    Depends on the version
  • Paleo
    Typically compatible
  • Low-carb
    Depends on the version
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Vegetarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Keto · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Paleo · Typically compatible
The plain form fits the conventional paleo food groups. Added ingredients and individual interpretations can differ.
Low-carb · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: Pacific Nutrient Database 2020 — 01.1.7.4.9_99 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .