What is pandan, and why does the real thing smell nothing like the artificial flavour?

Pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius) is a long-leaved, deep green plant. Its fragrance comes from 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, the same compound that gives jasmine rice its aroma

Artificial pandan flavour is strong and cloying but lacks the "cool", grassy note of fresh leaves. Real pandan is always a paler green than synthetic colouring — the easiest way to tell them apart

Yoksod presses fresh pandan every day at our Om Noi central kitchen and uses no artificial colours or flavours in any item