Vintage or Antique Betel Nut Set

Currently on holiday in Malaysia. Here’s a vintage betel nut set I bought, complete with cutters and pots.

I'm not too familiar with the process of betel-nut use. What purposes are served by the little containers? The cutters I know, are for slicing up the nuts, but that's about all I know.

 

The different bowls were used for the nuts, the leaves and lime (from baked seashells). Sometimes pounded bark was added for texture. And then there is a mixing bowl, to make the desired mixture. The mixture of cut nuts, lime, and bark is put in the betel leaf, which is then folded and popped in the mouth.

 

malacca??
pop up to penang if you have time!

 

I left Malacca this morning. I'm currently in KL, and I'm actually going to Penang next week! LOL. Hope to find more treasures!!

 

excellent!! safe trip

FYI: one of the big antique shops along Penang Road had a fire recently not sure if they have reopened.

 

Which shop & what address? If it's intersting, I might go have a look.

 

Hong Giap Lebuh Penang

 

You guys find the best stuff. I will have to add a trip to Penang to my bucket list of places I haven't been.

 

LOL!! I knew I could count on you to answer my question!!

Thanks AJ. I knew it was something like that, but I didn't know all the precise details.

 

Well that explains what my old tray was.

 

Yup!! That's exactly what it is. Except yours is missing the cutters.