19th Century Indian Mughal Engraved Copper Betel Nut Spice Box Container Antique

Consuming betel leaves with several ingredients such as wet lime paste, katechu, areca nut, cloves and even tobacco leaves has been popular in India from the fourth century AD.

The box was probably used to store the betel leaf used in the preparation of paan. Lime paste is mixed with grated areca nut and flavourings and the resulting mixture is rolled in the betel leaf to form a small parcel which can then be chewed. As well as being an integral part of Indian hospitality, paan is believed to possess medicinal properties and was also taken as an aphrodisiac.

Height (incl handle): 13.5 cm - Diameter: 16.75 cm