Pāhonoa te oro

People in many parts of the world do not just eat on plates. They eat on leaves. This is common in South India. It is also seen in Sri Lanka. And in parts of Southeast Asia. At first it feels like tradition. But there is a reason this practice survived for centuries. Banana leaves contain natural plant compounds. They interact with hot food. They are used fresh. This makes them naturally clean. Unlike plastic. They return to the earth effortlessly. Different cultures. Same simple idea. Sometimes