Introduction
Pandanus amaryllifolius is a plant belonging to Pandanaceae family, with aromatic leaves, which impart the characteristic flavour of aromatic rice. This characteristic feature is attributed to the presence of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2 ACPy). The essential oil of Pandanus leaves is known to impart 10 times more flavour than the scented rice. The plants are grown as ornamental in pots or in kitchen garden in addition to its growth in wild state. It is widely cultivated in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and India. There is a wide scope for use of this leaf as source of 2 ACPy. Pandanus leaves are traditionally used while cooking non-aromatic rice to impart a resemblance of basmati aroma to the cooked rice. It can also be used to flavour meat and vegetable products or blended with other flavour enhancing sauces. The fresh leaves are perishable in nature because of high moisture content. Dehydration is an essential method of preserving the leaves. Standardization of drying parameters is vital for producing quality leaves.