More about the betel nut

19 June 2025

Sucking on a betel nut or chewing sirih leaves is an ancient custom known from the Dutch East Indies. Few people are familiar with it today. The summer edition of the magazine Tribal Art, features the associated paraphernalia with a well-written account of the significance of this dying custom. With fresh betel leaves as a backdrop, this is a delightful article for those seeking to discover pleasures other than smoking. Don Duco wrote the text; the illustrations are from our museum collection.

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