Betel leaves and paan use in Bangladesh

Man showing a small container with paan for personal use, which includes betel leaf and tobacco, rural Bangladesh

Rural Bangladesh; April 29, 2013; Paan is a preparation combining betel leaf with areca nut and sometimes also with tobacco. It is chewed for its stimulant and psychoactive effects. After chewing it is either spat out or swallowed.

Man preparing paan, which includes betel leaf and tobacco, rural Bangladesh

Rural Bangladesh; April 29, 2013; Paan is a preparation combining betel leaf with areca nut and sometimes also with tobacco. It is chewed for its stimulant and psychoactive effects. After chewing it is either spat out or swallowed.

Man preparing paan, which includes betel leaf and tobacco, rural Bangladesh

Rural Bangladesh; April 29, 2013; Paan is a preparation combining betel leaf with areca nut and sometimes also with tobacco. It is chewed for its stimulant and psychoactive effects. After chewing it is either spat out or swallowed.

Khasi tribe women sorting Betel leaves in a jungle village in northern Bangladesh

Khasi tribe, Nirala Para village, Sreemangal (Srimangal), Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh; April 29, 2013; The betel (Piper betle) is the leaf of a vine belonging to the Piperaceae family, which includes pepper and kava. It is valued both as a mild stimulant and for its medicinal properties. The Khasi are an indigenous, tribal people, who reside in the hilly areas of Sylhet, Bangladesh.

Khasi tribe women sorting Betel leaves in a jungle village in northern Bangladesh

Khasi tribe, Nirala Para village, Sreemangal (Srimangal), Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh; April 29, 2013; The betel (Piper betle) is the leaf of a vine belonging to the Piperaceae family, which includes pepper and kava. It is valued both as a mild stimulant and for its medicinal properties. The Khasi are an indigenous, tribal people, who reside in the hilly areas of Sylhet, Bangladesh.

Khasi tribe women sorting Betel leaves in a jungle village in northern Bangladesh

Khasi tribe, Nirala Para village, Sreemangal (Srimangal), Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh; April 29, 2013; The betel (Piper betle) is the leaf of a vine belonging to the Piperaceae family, which includes pepper and kava. It is valued both as a mild stimulant and for its medicinal properties. The Khasi are an indigenous, tribal people, who reside in the hilly areas of Sylhet, Bangladesh.

Khasi tribe women sorting Betel leaves in a jungle village in northern Bangladesh

Khasi tribe, Nirala Para village, Sreemangal (Srimangal), Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh; April 29, 2013; The betel (Piper betle) is the leaf of a vine belonging to the Piperaceae family, which includes pepper and kava. It is valued both as a mild stimulant and for its medicinal properties. The Khasi are an indigenous, tribal people, who reside in the hilly areas of Sylhet, Bangladesh.