The Penang History, the island of Betel Nut has many folklores told in the Malay history or legends. Pinang is the Malay word for Betel Nut or areca nut.

In Penang History, The Nyonyas and Malays uses betel nuts for many things, chewing with Sireh, marriage customs and ceremonies and to ward away evils too.

The three races of Malaysia eats sireh with betel nut slices. The Nyonyas and Malays takes it in the same way. And time for eating sireh is gossip time, munching and chewing as they exchanged the daily happenings in the household.

Its most widespread use was as one of the ingredients used in sireh, a concoction that consists of shaved betel nut fragments, lime and cloves wrapped in fresh palm leaves and chewed as one would chew gum. As it is chewed, it forms an aromatic mixture which colours the lips and saliva red and is reputed to produce mild narcotic effects.

The significance of the betel nut palm to Penang History is not limited to just its name. The modern-day tricolour flag of Penang also features the ubiquitous tree.