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In Southeast Asia, the “binlang culture” has been widely popular for a long time,
where people of all ages and genders chew betel nut wrapped in betel leaves
after mixing it with ingredients like fruits, spices, and condiments.
This culture was very intriguing to Westerners who encountered
it in Southeast Asia during the 16th century.
They often disparaged the local betel nut culture of the region
as “messy, unsightly, and repugnant.”

Origins of Binlang Culture

Binlang culture is widely spread not only in Southeast Asia
but also in India, Sri Lanka, various regions of Africa
such as Madagascar and Melanesia, and some parts of southern China.

Binlang Culture Distribution Range
Kim, In-a, 〈Chewing Tobacco Culture in Southeast Asia〉 《Suvannabhumi》, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2012. Recited from Chapter 6., page 95

The “chewing tobacco culture,” known as binlang culture,
can be traced back to the Ban Chiang archaeological site in Thailand,
dating back to the 3rd millennium BCE. The earliest record of its association
can be found in Chinese historical records from the 2nd century BCE,
stating that betel nuts were offered as a tribute in Vietnam.

Binlang is
made by crushing and grinding limestone in mainland countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and by crushing seashells in maritime countries like the Philippines.
Various spices such as cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, musk, nutmeg, pepper, ginger, and flavor-enhancing additives are added to the mixture according to regional preferences.
The mixture is then wrapped in betel leaves to create the final product.

Meaning of Binlang Culture

In everyday life, binlang culture has been helpful in eliminating bad breath,
preventing oral bacterial infections, and aiding digestion. However,
it has also been used for grave furnishing during funerals, as well as in marriages,
where brides take binlang containers as part of their dowry.

Binlang container,
Pekinangan, Indonesia 20th century. Brass 21×21×31 cm. Collection of the Asia Culture Museum
It consists of “ceneng,” a bag for carrying betel nut, “cepuk,”
a container for spices and tobacco, “sembelung,” a container for betel leaves,
and “papon,” a container for lime powder.

Especially in Southeast Asia,
it is considered a major offense to refuse when a guest is offered
a pekinangan with betel nut as a gesture of courtesy and hospitality.

In recent years, the culture of chewing betel nut has been declining,
but still remains an important part of traditional culture in the region.

[Link] Exhibition of “Pekinangan,” a betel nut container, in <This Month’s Featured Collection> of the Asia Culture Museum