Betel leaves, known as Vetrilai in Tamil, is ubiquitous in religious ceremonies, house warming functions, and rural households across Tamil Nadu and the rest of the country. It is also used in herbal preparations, including liquid balm. Three famous Vetrilais of the State are Sholavandan, Authoor, and Kumabakonam. Of them, the Authoor and Sholavandan varieties have secured the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, while the Kumbakonam variety is exported to some countries.
The betel leaf grown in Sholavandan, a town panchayat in the Vadipatti block of Madurai district, is famous for its taste and aroma. According to the details provided by the Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Marketing Board and Sholavandan Vetrilai Kodaikal Vivasayigal Sangam (betel farmers’ association), farmers who grow other crops still dedicate a small part of their land to betel leaf cultivation. They send the produce to the Kallalagar temple at Azhagar Kovil in Madurai.
