Betel leaves are the fresh leaves of Piper betle, a vine used across South and Southeast Asia. Nutritionally they provide vitamin C, calcium, and beta-carotene. They are used to wrap the areca nut (betel nut) quid, and separately in cooking as a flavour-forward leaf in Thai and Indian cuisine. The leaf itself is distinct from the betel nut, which is a carcinogen; the leaf alone is not classified as carcinogenic.
Use fresh betel leaves as wrappers for miang kham (Thai leaf cups) or as a garnish. When used in cooking, they add a peppery, slightly medicinal flavour. Do not confuse with betel nut (areca nut), which is harmful.
Where Betel leaves, fresh Stands Out
Macronutrients per 100g
Vitamins & Minerals
| Nutrient | Per 100g | % Daily Value* | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potassium | 550 mg | 28% | |
| Calcium | 390 mg | 49% | |
| Phosphorus | 80.0 mg | 11% | |
| Iron | 8.10 mg | 58% | |
| Vitamin C | 3.00 mg | 4% | |
| Niacin (B3) | 0.700 mg | 4% | |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.250 mg | 18% | |
| Thiamin (B1) | 0.150 mg | 14% | |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.000 µg | 0% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.000 µg | 0% | |
| Vitamin A (RE) | 0.000 µg | 0% | |
| Maltose | 0.000 g | — | |
| Cholesterol | 0.000 mg | — | |
| Retinol (vitamin A) | 0.000 µg | 0% |
* % Daily Value is the proportion of an adult
EU Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) supplied by 100g of this food.
NRVs are the labelling standard — the same basis as the “%RI” figures printed on
food packaging — so these percentages are directly comparable with a shop label.
They are a single adult figure and do not vary by age or sex, which is why they
sometimes differ from UK dietary reference values: the NRV for vitamin C is 80mg
where the UK RNI is 40mg. When Nutriofia assesses your own intake in the
reports and trackers, it uses the age- and sex-specific UK values instead.
Fibre is shown without a percentage. Our fibre values use the UK
Englyst NSP method, while the published 30g daily goal is an AOAC figure — the two
are measured differently and a single percentage would mislead.
How we source and normalise our data →
Phytochemicals
Bioactive plant compounds — not classified as essential nutrients but associated with a range of health benefits.