Indonesia: From a Javanese illustrated manuscript dated 1828, this drawing shows a nobleman receiving an offering of betel.

Betel is the leaf of a vine belonging to the Piperaceae family, which includes pepper and kava, and is native to South and Southeast Asia. It is valued both as a mild stimulant and for medicinal properties and as an antiseptic. The betel leaf is usually coated with lime, wrapped around the betel nut and chewed.

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Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

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Pictures From History