Betel-nut preparation. The preparation of betel- nuts, a habit forming drug. Betel-nuts are visible in the green container with unknown vegetables and tools to open the nuts. Prepared nuts are seen in a bowl (at lower centre) and wrapped in betel-leaves and packaged (at centre left). Green betel-leaves can be seen (top left) and two pastes to flavour the preparation (top right). Betel-nuts are boiled in lime, dried and wrapped in betel-leaf with spicy paste. This plug" is chewed in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia for it's intoxicating effect which is similar to alcohol. Habitual use causes discol- oration of the mouth and may cause oral cancers."