Betel nut bag

Betel Objects

Today people get together over a cup of coffee or tea to be social and to get a buzz of caffeine. In many parts of South and Southeast Asia, people once chewed a betel, a mild stimulant and psychoactive substance that may have antidepressant qualities, for the same purposes. These traditions continue today both in Asia, and in Asian diasporic communities around the world.

A betel quid consists of the nut of the areca plant, which is chopped up, mixed with the mineral lime, and wrapped in the leaf of a betel vine. Sometimes flavorings, like herbs, spices, and tobacco are added to the quid. Containers for carrying and sharing these elements exist in many forms, from royal betel sets made of precious materials, to simpler containers made of fabric, rattan, or ceramics.