Authoor Vetrilai is a traditional crop variety of Betel leaf cultivated in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
[1] It is mainly cultivated in Authoor, Rajapathi, Chokkapalakarai, Maranthalai, Vellakoil, Melaattur, Sernthapoomangalam, Vazhavallan, Korkai and Umarikadu block panchayaths of Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu.
[6] The book "The Travels of Marco Polo (The Venetian)" mentions the use of betel leaves in the city of Kael, which is located just 10 km from Authoor village.
Betel leaves play a significant role in various aspects of life, including food, medicine, social, and religious purposes.
However, it's the 'Chakkai' and 'Maaththu' varieties that are in high demand and enjoy an excellent market in major cities across India, including Indore, Jaipur, Bhopal, Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, Bengaluru, Nellore, and Thiruvananthapuram.