Khasi woman preparing her Betel nuts (India)

The woman is removing the husk of an Areca nut.

The metal box she is holding contains calcium hydroxide (slaked lime), an ingredient that enhances the potency of the Betel nut.

The Areca nut is then wrapped with Betel leaf and chewed for its exhilarating lift. Betel chewing has been claimed to produce a sense of well-being, euphoria, heightened alertness, sweating, salivation, a hot sensation in the body and increased capacity to work.

Just like alcohol, tobacco, coffee and sakau, Areca nut and Betel leaf are culturally-approved psychoactive drugs.

The Areca nut, by association, is sometimes inaccurately called the "Betel nut" or "Betel Quids".

See the Areca nut Wikipedia article.

See the Betel leaves Wikipedia article.