PANDAN ROSES

 Today is Valentine's Day or what is left of it as it is already 11.24 p.m.  I read in the newspaper about a florist in Penang selling roses fashioned from pandan (pandanus) leaves.  Now this is a novel idea.  I did try making it and was rather successful.  Perhaps, I will post a photograph of the roses I have made later on.  So far I have only done one.

Here is the article on the pandan roses for Valentine's Day.

Say it with pandan roses on Valentine’s Day

Flavourful scent: Lim arranging bouquets of pandan roses at her shop in Penang.

GEORGE TOWN: Lovers can literally go green this Valentine’s Day instead of giving out the conventional red roses.

They can opt for artificial green roses, made from pandan leaves as a gift to their partner.

Ohara Florist Sdn Bhd is offering such roses for the first time this year, using fresh pandan leaves which are folded into the shape of roses.

Ohara founder Honey Bee Lim Poh Bee said she wanted to offer something different, cheaper and yet fragrant to customers.

“I got my inspiration after seeing some traders selling them at the night market,” she said at her shop in Lintang Burma here yesterday.

Lim said the pandan rose could also be used as a freshener for cars or washrooms due to its long-lasting fragrance as well as for decoration.

Although the pandan rose was new in the market, she said response towards it was encouraging.

“Young people always want something different and extraordinary to surprise their lovers. As a florist, it’s our aim to make people happy through our floral designs which differs every year for Valentine’s Day,” Lim said.

She said the pandan rose could last for a week before it dries and turns brown. She sells a beautifully wrapped stalk of pandan rose for RM10 each compared to RM15 for a rose.

SOURCE: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/2/14/nation/12709633&sec=nation