Maida flour is highly-refined wheat flour used to make a wide variety of food items like puri, chappathi, paratha, etc. Maida is sometimes referred to as "all-purpose flour". In India, maida is used to make pastries and other bakery items like bread, biscuit, toast etc. Some people, especially from South India, debate that tapioca is also used in preparing maida.citation needed
Pastry flours available in United States may be used as a substitute for Maida.[1]
After the wheat is ground in a roller mill(Chakki), the same is filtered through a fine mesh(600 mesh per square inch) to obtain Maida.
Foods made of maida are not considered to be particularly healthy. Still, during festive days, especially in South India, maida is a common ingredient.
