Paan and its messy after-effects in Jackson Heights

It is no secret that Queens is the most diverse borough in the city, with a slew of cultural traditions. Some traditions, though, as residents of Jackson Heights are discovering, are messier than others.

The New York Times reports on the habit of spitting paan – a betel leaf, a member the pepper family with tobacco-like narcotic effects – on the 74th Street shopping district, and the stir it has been causing within the South Asian community. Residents who work, shop, and live there are complaining about the red splotches left on the street as paan users spit out the unchewed refuse right on the street.

Paan is a very popular post-meal snack in the neighborhood. It’s an individual betel leaf wrapped around dried fruits, nuts and pastes. It can have a variety of flavors, from sweet to savory to minty, all in one bite.

The problem with paan, though, is that it loses its flavor within minutes, and so it has to be spit out. This spittle leaves splotches all over the sidewalks, and business, like the Delhi Heights restaurant, have to deal with the effects.

Members of the South Asian community, like Emad Choudhury from Bangladesh, are planning to address the issue at events where they hope to educate immigrants about American social customs.

On Jackson Heights Sidewalks, a Treat’s Messy Aftermath [The New York Times]