Tirur Betel leaf or Tirur vettila (in Malayalam) is the betel leaf produced in Tirur and nearby areas of Malappuram District of Kerala. It is a dioecious, evergreen creeper and an indigenous medicinal plant with glabrous, deep green, heart shaped leaves as economically important part.
Biological Classification of Betel Leaf is as given below
Kingdom : Plantae
Phylum : Magnoliphyta.
Class : Magnoliopsida.
Order : Piperales
Family : Piperaceae
Genus : Piper
Species : betle
Image Credit : www.keralatourism.org
Tirur Vettila is unique for its significantly high content of total chlorophyll and protein in fresh leaves. Tirur vettila possesses some special biochemical characters like unique flavour and aroma. Puthukodi and Nadan are the most common betel vine cultivars.
Puthukodi cultivar is mainly grown as pure crop as groups/clusters (Kootams) and this system of cultivation is known as ‘koottakodi’ (‘Kootam’ means ‘group’ and ‘kodi’ means ‘vine’ in Malayalam). Puthukodi have maximum leaf weight per unit area and optimum leaf parameters and has more acceptance and price in market.
Nadan cultivar is mainly cultivated as an intercrop on coconut and arecanut trees which provide support to betel vine. This system is known as ‘ottakkodi’ (‘Otta’ means ‘single’ and ‘kodi’ means ‘vine’). Betel leaves from Nadan cultivar are having more leaf area, leaf size and green colour than Puthukodi. In visual appearance Nadan will have broader leaves than Puthukodi.
Even though it is commonly used for making pan masala for chewing, it has many medicinal, industrial and cultural usages also. Eugenol in betel vine is an excellent antimutagen. It could be used as a local anesthetics for tooth ache. Eugenol with its antioxidant property makes Tirur betel leaf a probable candidate in the treatment of diseases.
“Thampooladhi Tylam” is an Ayurvedic preparation made with betel vine extract. Betel leaf extract improves oral health and reduces respiratory problems. An indigenous medicine to treat cough is prepared by boiling betel leaf in water.
Betel vine is used in temples for ‘poojas’ and to give ‘Dakshina’ during auspicious occasions. It is an integral part of Thamboolam and it is believed that the juice of betel leaf in Thamboolam, chewed after food enhances digestion.
GI Tag Registration Date : 14 August 2019
GI Tag Number : 641
Certificate Number : 354
Geographical Area : Kerala
Special Cover Release Date : 13 September 2021
Cancellation : Tirur 676 101
Type : GI Tag Cover
Cover Identification Number : KL-16/2021
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