Description

History

Chewing on betel nut has a long history. People have been chewing them since prehistoric times, originating in South-East Asia. The practice is a prominent element of the culture for many inhabitants of Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Later on, the habit also spread to residents of Madagascar, the West Indies and Papua New Guinea. The betel nuts are picked from the areca palm.

The leaves of this palm are used to make rolling papers for tobacco and herbs. Regular chewing has the side-effect of red teeth and spit, something betel nut lovers are quite proud of. Spitting out the residu has been prohibited in some areas, because of the unhygienic result. The arecoline that is in the betel nuts has a stimulating effect and works euphoric and for some even aphrodisiac.

Use

Betel nuts can be powdered and drank with coffee or water. Addition of lemon or lime helps the fast absorption of the active substance. The traditional way of eating the nuts is by chewing on them and painting your mouth red doing so. Again, addition of lemon or lime helps, as does adding a bit of chalk. Be careful to never use more than 3 grams per dosage, and 6 grams in a full day.

Warning!

Regular chewing on betel nuts damages the teeth and colours them red. High doses can cause diarrhoea and dizziness. Long term use can cause ulcers and increased the chance of cancer in the mouth and stomach. Producer Herbs of the Gods have collected high quality herbs since 1999. They have a selection of relaxing, stimulating and psychoactive herbs, that can be consumed by eating, drinking in teas or with a vaporizer.