Chewing Betel Leaves (Vettala Paaku Sunambu)

I mentioned the betel leaf (Piper belte or Paan in Hindi) and nut (together known as Vettilai Paaku in Tamil) in my first. The betel nut is actually the seed of the graceful Areca palm.

My first glimpse of the betel leaf has been the creeper of leaves snaking one of the coconut palms in my grandfather's backyard. Usually, someone would ask to pick a few slightly young leaves. The nuts looked like little coconuts in their skins and and allowed to soften in a pot of water. When needed, a nut was taken out for use and its fibrous cover would be peeled off. The nut looked like a small pinkish brown egg with striations. My grandfather used a little knife to make shavings from the nut. I liked doing that too, it was fun watching the soft flakes falling with each shave of the knife. Then he would take a couple of betel leaves and on the side of the leaf with the vein showing, he would smear a pinch of lime (Chuna in Hindi).

Paan or Vettrilai (also spelt as Vethalai or Vettilai) is mostly grown in Kerala and West Bengal in India and in other parts of Asia (Sri Lanka, Fiji).

Vettrilai Paaku (betel leaf and nut) is a combo and is considered both auspicious and healthful (a digestive, breath freshner, etc). For South Indians, giving vettrilai and paaku with manjal (turmeric) and kunkumam (sindoor - red powder) to a woman is considered auspicious. When invited to someone's home, the host either gives it to his guests as if to crown a good meal/feast or along with a fruit at the end of your visit. In fact, after seriously! enjoying the meal, the guests partake of the betel leaves along with pieces of crushed betel nuts and a dash of lime (chuna or sunnambu), chewing and chatting. A woman or a man with lips reddened by the juice of the betel leaves are considered sexy (watch the videos).

Now there is an unromantic side to this. You may come across people with betel stained teeth (not very pretty) which is attributed to chewing betel leaf. However, the culprit is actulally Katha, an extract used to coat the areca betel nut. Poor oral hygiene causes teeth to be stained. Also those who chew betel leaves with tobacco are often addicted to it, so their teeth always look stained. Chewing of tobacco with the betel leaf is often not considered harmful or similar to smoking cigarettes. The betel nut is a mildly euphoric stimulant. Both betel nut and leaf have some healing properties.

Colloqially in Tamil
Unna vethala paku vachu kupatanama? is a commonly used phrase to say "do you need an invitation to visit (come to the table for lunch/dinner)?". Another phrase with variations is "avan vai enna chumma vethala paaku poduma? meaning "Is he going to chew paan while something is happening that needs him to act?"

Songs about the Betel Leaf
Vethala Pakku Sunnambu from the film Neelamalai Thirudan made in 1957 (Tamil)
Vethala potta shokkula from the film Amaran made in 1992 (Tamil)
Paaku Vethala Potain Pora'la from the film My Dear Marthandan (Tamil)
Paan Khaye Saiyan Hamarey from the film Teesri Kasam made in 1966 (Hindi)
Khaike Paan Banaras Wala from the film Don (Hindi)
Kurte ki baaiyan ko oopar chadhaike / masti mein rehte hain panwa chabaike (Hindi)

Recipe for Paan or Betel Leaf (with or without Tobacco i.e. Thambakku or Pugha Elai (smoking leaf)
Make Saada (plain) or Meeta (Sweet) Paan by Muchhad