Mendriq Orang Asli struggle to maintain 'kalung sireh' tradition

GUA MUSANG - The Mendriq Orang Asli community is gradually giving up the tradition of consuming 'kalung sireh' (roots of the sireh bukit plant) due to the difficulty of obtaining the plant, which only grows in remote forest areas.

This age-old tradition has been practised by their ancestors for hundreds of years, but now only a small segment of the Orang Asli community continues to uphold it.

Housewife Anis Jusoh, 40, said that finding the plant is difficult because it only grows in a few remote forest areas and can take up to two days to locate.

"Usually, if we find the sireh bukit plant, we pull it out by the roots to make 'kalung sireh' before chewing it.

"We will uproot as much of the sireh (betel) plant as possible to stock up so we don't have to return to the forest again,” she told Bernama recently.

Anis said it is a staple for the Orang Asli community, regardless of age, and anyone can consume it.

"I’ve introduced 'kalung sireh' to my family to ensure they don’t forget it, so it can be passed on to future generations.

"Whether male or female, I was taught by my parents to chew 'kalung sireh' from a young age,” she said.

According to her, 'kalung sireh' is tastier when mixed with a little lime, gambir, and betel nut, all prepared using cengkerang siput sedut (shells of river snails).

"Once the 'kalung sireh' is gathered and wrapped in betel leaves, we place both ingredients inside the cengkerang siput sedut to be roasted,” she explained.

After roasting, she said, the shell packed with 'kalung sireh' is placed in a container of water and left for three days.

"After three days, the snail shell is pounded into a fine powder, mixed with water, and then it is ready to be consumed at any time.

"Typically, I eat 'kalung sireh' after cooking lunch while waiting for my children and husband to return from work,” she said.

Meanwhile, Kamarul Jeluk, 50, said that chewing 'kalung sireh' has been a daily habit since childhood, and he cannot go a day without it.

"If I don't eat 'kalung sireh' in a day, it feels incomplete, and I constantly crave chewing sireh.

"The taste of 'kalung sireh' is bitter, but it has many health benefits, including reducing bad breath and improving digestion,” he said. - BERNAMA