Betel nut or betel seed is a plant that is categorized to the type of palms. This fruit has been known as a fruit that is beneficial for the health of the body. This is because it has a variety of nutrients. The characteristic of this plants reaches a height of 15-20 meters, has perpendicular stems with a centre striped, no branches, and white fibrous roots. Betel nut leaves are 85 cm long and 5 cm wide and toothed. Areca nut is oval shaped like an egg and the fruit germinates after 1.5-4 months with fibrous fruit walls. The young fruit is green while the ripe fruit is yellow. Full details of the betel nut can be seen on the pictures below
Mace The nutmeg tree, Myristica fragrans, is special in that it produces two separate spices, nutmeg and Mace. Mace is the ground outer covering (aril) of the nutmeg seed. A piece of unground Mace is called a blade. In its natural state, mace is a bright crimson lace up to 35 mm (1-1/2 in) long, encasing the brown nutmeg in irregular, fleshy lobes. As it is dried, it develops its characteristic aroma but loses its bright red color. The mace can become brittle and horny, though the best quality mace will retain some pliability and release a little oil when squeezed. It grows in Indonesia (Siaw-Ambon and Papua islands).
Nutmeg is the actual seed of the tree, roughly egg-shaped and about 20 mm to 30 mm (1 inch) long and 15 mm to 18 mm (1/2 inch) wide, and weighing between 5 g and 10 g (1/2 ounce and ounce) dried, while mace is the dried lacy reddish covering or arillus of the seed.
Black Pepper is the dried berry of Piper nigrum. This vine which can grow up to ten feet tall is indigenous to India and South East Asia. Pepper is actually berries that are picked about nine months after flowering. Black Pepper, the spiciest, is berries that are picked unripe. The berries used for White Pepper are ripened on the vine and soaked so that their outer hulls are easily removed. Green Peppercorns are immature berries which are freeze dried or packed in brine for preservation. Pepper is grown in India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brazil.
