Peranakan Chinese, in particular the older womenfolk, were fond of chewing betel leaves (‘duan sireh’ in Malay). Offering someone betel leaf was an invitation, an act of friendliness or a token of an agreement. The leaves are usually eaten after a meal with a lime paste spread and sprinkled with shaved betel nut. This drawer is part of a sireh box set that consists of four separate containers for holding betel leaves, powdered gambier, lime and sliced betel nuts respectively. The set also comes with a pair of shears used for cutting betel nuts.
