Indulgences

1. വെറ്റില

   veṟṟila

   Vettila (betel leaf)

   Usage

   The leaf of a vine in the pepper family, cultivated in India since antiquity. It is the wrapper for a chewing quid, and is also used ceremonially and to welcome guests

2. അടയ്ക്ക

   aṭaykka

   Adakka (areca nut)

   Usage

   The nut of the areca palm, called paakku in some districts. Sweet and astringent at once, and the main thing wrapped in a betel leaf and chewed. Habitual areca chewing is a known risk factor for oral cancer

3. മുറുക്കാൻ

   muṟukkān

   Murukkaan (betel quid)

   Usage

   Contains tobacco. It is the mix of tobacco, areca nut and lime chewed together with a betel leaf; the act itself is vettila murukkal. Note that murukku, differing only in the ending, is a fried rice-flour snack and a completely different thing

4. പുകയില

   pukayila

   Pukayila (tobacco)

   Usage

   The tobacco leaf. The word is transparently puka "smoke" plus ila "leaf". Used both for chewing and for smoking

5. ബീഡി

   bīḍi

   Beedi (leaf-rolled cigarette)

   Usage

   The South Asian hand-rolled smoke: shredded tobacco wrapped in a leaf. Although smaller than a cigarette, it produces more carbon monoxide and tar. North Kerala was historically a centre of the beedi industry

6. സിഗററ്റ്

   sigaraṟṟu

   Cigarette

   Usage

   Shredded tobacco rolled in paper. Also spelled സിഗററ്റ് or സിഗരറ്റ്. Smoking in public places is restricted by law in India

7. കള്ള്

   kaḷḷu

   Kallu (palm toddy)

   Usage

   Sap tapped from the flower stalk of a coconut or palmyra palm and left to ferment. The sap reaches about 4% alcohol two hours after tapping and turns bitter after a day. Kerala is the only state where toddy is commercially traded as liquor, supplied from the Chittur area of Palakkad. What Kerala banned in 1996 was arrack, the distilled spirit — not toddy; neighbouring Tamil Nadu, by contrast, bans toddy outright

8. കള്ളുഷാപ്പ്

   kaḷḷuṣāppu

   Kallu shappu (toddy shop)

   Usage

   A shop licensed to serve toddy: there are around 4,300 across the state. They are known as much for their fiercely spiced fish and meat as for the drink — kappa biryani is one of their signature dishes. The spaced spelling kallu shappu is equally common.

9. ബിയർ

   biyar

   Beer

   Usage

   In Kerala beer is sold through the state outlets and through licensed bars and beer parlours. Ordinary restaurants may not serve it, so check whether a place is licensed before ordering

10. ബെവ്കോ

    bevkō

    Bevco (state liquor outlet)

    Usage

    The everyday short name for the Kerala State Beverages Corporation and its retail outlets. Distinct from the toddy shops: bottled liquor is bought here

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