Wild Betel Leaf

This heart shaped leaf is used in local cuisine to make ulam (traditional Malay salad) and is one of the herbs in the festive dish of Nasi Ulam. The leaf is often a part of the spiced fish cake of Otak Otak. It looks like a betel leaf but is smaller in size and has a peppery taste. The scientific name is piper sarmentosum and the Daun Kadok is popular as a ground cover plant along walkways and is a feature in landscaped gardens.