Vettiver – an exotic herb used in drinking water in villages

have you seen Vettiver? I would say it is an exotic one because it only grows in the fields where there is water. meaning they say varapu in Tamil. Varuppu is the line that divides one’s field from the other. they grow only in that. and it is very difficult to harvest. because the roots only matter here. The roots go up to 2 feet or so. and you have to really have a lot of water before you harvest.

it is called a Dheiveega Mooligai a divine herb because they also keep it in the poojas room for prosperity.

in our place we always do not realise the value of it, till the western goes gaga about it.

when I went to France, in a perfumery unit, I saw the Vettiver being reverently placed on a lace and in a showcase and a write up about it.

in our villages, during summer we put two or three sprigs of roots in the water that is stored in a mud pot. It adds minerals and also cools the body, while giving out a beautiful fragrance.

me being passionate about herbs, bought it from a store in Chennai. mooligai kadai. not from anywhere else.

came home and soaked it in water. because that was what they suggested. my doubt was outside it had a thin plastic net to hold the vettiver, that should irritate the skin. seri ippo enna parkalaam nu I soaked it in the bucket of water.

next day morning, with so much of anticipation went to check. no smell nothing. che smell illa fragrance.

was wondering, and I bought around 25 because I was bringing it to the UK.

I cut the plastic net and removed everything. ada paavigala, only the outer covering was vettiver, inside coconut fibre.

for this I paid some 50 bucks each.

then one day went to my friends place. while we were chatting there, my friends husband said that he bought some herbal scrubs from kerala. I asked vettiver? yes and he was all smiles. he wanted to show off.

I could not contain my smile. but still thought ok kerala na vera kadhai, let him bring.

he had bought some 5 pieces. and wow there was branding. a doctor’s image on the packing. I was impressed.

I said let’s open. already I could sense panic in my friends face.

its not about the money, its about how easily we get fooled.

opened it. why blood same blood ya… vadivelu comedy.. the same vettiver outside and coconut fibre inside.

all of us burst out laughing. and he is a Phd…

then whenever I see this I ask the shopowner do you know that it is coconut fibre inside. they religiously say no mam original.

ook, atleast the vettiver should have fragrance right. that will not have because already the oils have been extracted.

when we harvested vettiver in our farm, there was so much fragrance. watch how we harvested.

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