Betel nut (Areca catechu)

Betelnut (Areca catechu) is the seed of the betelpalm. This palmtree can grow up to 75 feet high and has leaves of 3 feet long.

Betelnut is one of the world's most popular plants. The leaf is converted into paper for rolling tobacco and herbs.
Betelnut is chewed with burnt lime and sometimes with tobacco or other herbs for chewing. There are millions of Asians who enjoy betelnut daily as much as the Europeans enjoy their cup of coffee.

Regular use of Betelnut stains the mouth and teeth a deep red. Asian betel chewers are quite proud of these stains.

Effects

Betelnut is a stimulator. The active substance, arecoline, has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, it improves learning and thinking capacities, it enhances the breathing, benefits your mood and reduces the strain on the heart. It gives a euphoric feeling and has aphrodisiac qualities.

The chewing of betel gives a cheerful relaxation and a nice feeling in the mouth that rises up to the brains. This makes it an enjoyable pastime.

Usage

You can have a teaspoon of powdered Betelnut mixed with water or coffee. For a better effect mix it with lime and chew on it for some time. This makes the active substance work, which is absorbed via the mouth in the blood. The saliva and chewed leftovers should be spit out after a while. For a better taste and assimilation into the body you can eat parts of lemon with it or sprinkle the powder with lemon juice.

Never use more than 3 grams at a time and 6 grams a day.

Warning

Regular chewing of betelnut is very bad for the teeth and colors the teeth red. It also increases the chance of getting ulcers or cancer in the mouth, pharynx, esophagus and stomach. High doses can cause diarrhea and dizziness. One of the consequences of long term use is a light addiction.

Links

Erowid with chewingtips - If you'd like some more tips on the use of betelnut take a look at this page.

Shipping restrictions

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Reviews

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Nov 14, 2008 Happy Slappy said:
   
“Made me sweat and made my mouth feel hottish. And then it hit me and the euphoria feeling wore off after ten minutes. And it was a mild stimulating effect for a couple of hours. I mixed a teaspoon with half a teaspoon of baking soda and made it into a paste with water then put it into my mouth and mixed it around and spat it out when i started feeling hot.”