Antique Betel Boxes

Firstly, slaked lime paste is applied to the leaf followed by the Katha paste and fine pieces or slices of areca nut are placed on the leaf, and the leaf along with the contents is rolled into a chewable shape. Paan is mostly consumed in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South-East Asian countries and in other parts of the world by the Asian emigrants. Chewing paan gives a good red colour and pleasant aroma to the lips and mouth. The nut of the areca palm is mistakenly called betel nut, which in fact is a wrong notion. Betel refers to the leaves of the betel wine, and this wine does not bear fruit or nut. So, it is the areca nut and not the betel nut that is used in a paan.

Betel Box in Heptagonal Shape-From Yk’s Collection

Compartmental view of Heptagonal Shaped Betel Box

Paan leaves and the ingredients are stored in compartmentalized boxes to make it convenient to prepare the paan. Users can carry these boxes along with them. These boxes are also called  ‘paandan’ in India, as they hold the paan. These boxes are made of brass, copper, silver and even gold. A traditional betel box would have individual compartments to store betel leaves, betel nut slices, lime and various other spices used in the paan. Depending on the family, society and tradition, the variety of the box that is used changes.

Betel Box With Decorated Handle and Borders-From Yk’s Collection

Compartmental view of  the Box at the left

To show hospitality to the visiting guests it is customary to keep the betel boxes fully stored when offering a paan to them. These boxes come in various shapes and sizes. The status and position of the family is revealed through these boxes. The style and decoration of these boxes depends on the culture of the society, location and the owner’s wealth.

Gallery :

Betel Box with Perforations-From Yk’s Collection	Spittoon
Lime Box-From Yk’s Collection	Lime Box Open View