Betel leaves are offered to guests when they visit a Malay family.
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| 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.
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| Meeeomiin, a 39-year old Myanmarese male, shows his sireh-stained teeth. Photo courtesy of Ahmad Fuad Haji Morad (Facebook), 13 July 2012. |
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| 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.
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| Sireh stamen/flower stalk? What's this part called? |
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| The leaves measure 15 cm long x 9 cm wide. |
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| Betel leaves (daun sireh) being prepared for placing in the tepak sireh, betel serving tray. |
