Betel Nuts

The betel nut (Areca catechu) is a small, hard nut much used in Indian cuisine. When chopped and mixed with spices, other nuts, coconut shreds or tiny candy balls and wrapped in betel leaves, they are known as 'paan', a small triangular package served after a meal to aid the digestion and sweeten the breath. Betel nuts can be bought whole or ready shredded at grocery shops.