Friday 13 July 2012

Sireh (Part 2)

Betel leaves are offered to guests when they visit a Malay family.

Fresh betel leaves in a heavy brass serving tray (tepak sireh) for serving to guests. The tepak sireh is available from the main market in Kota Bharu (Pasar Siti Khadijah) for between RM200-RM300.

When I was growing up, almost every elderly woman chewed sireh. Practically everyone chewed sireh. 

Meeeomiin, a 39-year old Myanmarese male, shows his  sireh-stained teeth. Photo courtesy of Ahmad Fuad Haji Morad (Facebook), 13 July 2012.
How Meeeomiin packs his sireh for chewing. Photo courtesy of Ahmad Fuad Haji Morad (Facebook), 13 July 2012.

Now I grow my own sireh plant (it is a vine). The leaves are used for many things by myself and the women in my neighbourhood.


Sireh stamen/flower stalk? What's this part called?
The leaves measure 15 cm long x 9 cm wide.
Betel leaves (daun sireh) being prepared for placing in the tepak sireh, betel serving tray.