Betel nuts: Taiwan looks to kick deadly addiction to stimulant 'chewing gum' • FRANCE 24 English

[@thewirah1]

Palpitations, black teeth, and cancer? Not surprised it's so popular.

[@honeybunch5765]

😂

[@larryc1616]

Like 🚬

[@UNCLE-DRONY]

Sign me up!!!! Crazy 🤔

[@UnknownownknU]

The chance of getting cancer is low but adding several spices like they do in India, Papua New Guinea and other countries that have high affinity for spices added to the chew has higher inflammation and cancer. The three main components are betel nut, betel leaves and lime while a vast amount adds a little bit of tobacco.

[@deeb.9250]

​@@UnknownownknUbetel nut where I am from is so basic, rarely even tobacco added, lime is only white and same stuff they sell at agricultural store 😂 but I have family that chew it, so still worried

[@aboynamed666]

Thank you for NOT censoring this.

[@justicewillprevail1106]

Those nuts were notorious chewed amongst taxi drivers , truck drivers and men who were into illegal activities when I was a little girl about 40 years ago in Taiwan.

[@Owjdnskoakansbskk]

It’s the same now too

[@amarbinay6654]

Meanwhile the old Asian lived longer while consuming that same sht

[@netro4hoodie]

@@Owjdnskoakansbskk he lying. Everyone does it.

[@dkwsu16]

@@netro4hoodie no they dont, its usually the people with no class that do it only.

[@netro4hoodie]

@@dkwsu16 cap. stop cappin

[@tirtaksara]

It's surprising that in Taiwan the habit of chewing betel nut still a thing. In Indonesia, the last time I saw people chewing betel nut was decades ago, done by old people and they were the last generation to do it. However the main reason for the disappearance of the habit is not related to health, but more about aesthetics and hygiene. Chewing betel nut makes someone's teeth and mouth red as if bleeding, and the streets littered with disgusting red saliva that those people spit.

[@MacrosFTW]

This is still normal in Taiwan Unfortunately.

[@SCORPIUSANCTUM]

yeah I'm surprised to see this too! so many uncles were chewing this back in the 80s/90s and spitting all over the ground and streets so everything was stained including their teeth

[@trivatha]

Totally same as in Vietnam.

[@r7calvin]

It's mostly old people who still chew it. Not many young people do.

[@povpooh]

Cambodia was the same about a decade or two ago among senior citizens. Especially, among grandmothers….I think because of the spitting, nobody seems to chew it anymore. Kinda miss seeing it around lol

[@dvlarry]

The vast majority of Taiwanese people never chew betelnut. It's like chewing tobacco in USA. A small minority of people do it. It is looked down upon.

[@jcjko5504]

Agree.

[@behemothsbaby]

@@dvlarry , Agree. My SIL is Taiwanese and she’s definitely not a fan!

[@carloharris9]

Almost every local manual laborer in Taiwan chews it. You can't move house in Taiwan without dealing with betel nut smelling workers fumigating your whole house. It's a lot more widespread than chewing tobacco use in the US.

[@martokihiu536]

​@@carloharris9it's comparable to miraa (khat) in east Africa and Yemen

[@dvlarry]

@@carloharris9 I don't know where or when in Taiwan you lived in but that is absolutely not true. Esp in big cities like Taipei. The usage dropped rapidly in recent(last 10-15) years

[@h.nguyen4193]

In Vietnam, betel nut and betel leaves are important symbols of marriage and love. People chew them but they don't go crazy with the chewing. In vietnam the coffee's so good it replaced Betel nut as a stimulant pick me up fruit.

[@SCORPIUSANCTUM]

YES! LOVE VIET COFFEE! I use a one-cup drip every morning

[@overthrone3494]

I guess that’s what makes it so good are the beans sourced from Vietnam

[@letsgoeverywhere]

Yeah it seems more symbolic now. All of my Vietnamese friends and coworkers in the north never touched the stuff.

[@snowwhiteray7692]

It's In India Too 🇮🇳

[@h.nguyen4193]

@@letsgoeverywhere Also in Vietnam 50% of cafe/tea shop operates like Hooters in America. Selling Betel nut in lingerie is pretty normal in asian countries nowadays. Even tea houses uses ladies in skimpy outfits. it's not good nor bad. it is what it is.

[@lieurodriguez7807]

This report is very true. It is so addictive and causes cancer to my grandma. She eventuality passed away from it.

[@fritzfxx]

Sorry to hear that, lieu. Hugs

[@jimwhite1756]

You look at the girls who sell this nut vs the people who try to convince people to quit...yeah, no contest who is going to win that battle.

[@Ynalaw]

I worked in a warehouse where a Filipino guy was chewing this. He would spit it all over the warehouse. The company didn't stop him. He would spit it all over the sidewalk in front of the building. Orangey-red stains slpattered the pavement. I was confused. Even the other Filipino guys didn't like it.

[@qwertylink9066]

His wife don't like it either. 😅

[@crymeaariver]

Not the Peenoise pride, bruh.

[@xziaah6j63kx9]

disgusting.

[@gordonlekfors2708]

disgusting!

[@crymeaariver]

Not the Pee noise pride, my guy!

[@CafeNervoza]

Pretty good report! I tried one while visiting Taiwan from one of those "betel nut beauties". It was rather strange feeling. I could feel my heart rate and blood pressure going through the roof and returning to baseline maybe 20-30 mins after. It was kinda like having a really strong cigarette and a double espresso simultanously, lol!

[@larryc1616]

It wasn't the bikini hottie? 💋

[@evonne315]

Probably kill me on the spot I have a murmur.

[@beedt714]

sounds like a regular morning!

[@JasonBacher]

And then what happened when you tried the betel nut?

[@RahulRk-tr7ot]

Maybe what it had tobacco with it.

[@khent712]

Weed is legal in Canada but no scantily clad sales staff.

[@thisnthat7760]

😂😂😂😂

[@truthhandlers3000]

Someone should at least look into this problem and address it 😂

[@cannabico6621]

to be honest i woulnd't like a scantly clad dressed woman selling me weed at night in the cold street, makes me worry about her safety obviously.

[@nnconfomiststoic888]

So is fenta

[@anngo4140]

Pretty cold up there man

[@marinadiaz4995]

These are also chewed in the CNMI, Guam and other Micronesian islands. I have close relatives who have died from cancer caused by the betel nut with lime.

[@demon_slayers666]

also in Malaysia, Thailand Indonesia India..

[@joiesamaniego3056]

Philippines, too. ​@@demon_slayers666

[@angrycannibal6625]

God comfort you and your family.

[@mariobacolod]

​@@demon_slayers666we don't betel in philippines

[@RahulRk-tr7ot]

No. Betel nut with lime does not cause oral cancer. I think they chewed Tobacco along with it. We do have it india. In Kerala(Souther india)we call it "murukkaan" in our language. In North india they call it"Beeda". Ingredients are Betel leaf, betel nuts, lime paste and dried tobacco leaf. Chewing it causes Oral cancer. Remove tobacco from it and no worry about oral cancer.

[@boblob-law9401]

1:02 Of course she doesn't take them herself. First rule of drug dealing is that you don't get high on your own supply

[@wholefoodplantbasedmama5398]

I studied in Taiwan in the 80s and we saw red spots on the streets where it was spat out. I am currently studying lifestyle medicine and smoking cessation is my last subject. We discussed this last week.

[@tainanking]

Red spots are still around. I used to think they may be blood but nah, those are betel nut

[@jaredgalvin]

My father chewed betel nuts as a way to stop smoking. Never knew it is also cancer-causing, but maybe not as bad as cigarettes.

[@Macho_Fantastico]

Never heard of this drug before. It's scary how casual the taking of it seems given the dangers. But it seems so rooted into the culture I'm not surprised it's taken hold.

[@theskiesaredark]

It's a big problem all across Asia. One of my relatives lost all his teeth from betel nut and tobacco addiction. Now he switched to menthol cigarettes, at the age of 70. Once you start an addiction it becomes a life-long issue.

[@MacaqueStinx]

Menthol cigarettes are no better

[@anonymoustargetindividual]

People died in 50+ and 60+ in USA. Taiwanese make it to 70 with cancer of the mouth link to the betel nut.

[@justme5923]

My grandma chewed betal nuts all her life. Her teeth were died in shining black and she never had dental problems. She lived into her ninety's

[@povpooh]

I notice the same thing. It seems like all the grandmas that chewed betal nuts, rarely have teeth problems !

[@kimkim3827]

Same with my father who is addicted to this. He still has his teeth while my mother already lost all of hers even tho she never chewed betel nut.

[@deenyc1049]

I know old people who have smoked their entire lives and don’t have lung cancer. That doesn’t mean smoking won't raised the chance of cancer exponentially.

[@sennataylor592]

Good for her. She was lucky. That doesn’t make her the norm.

[@asianangler]

dont mean they're healthy for you, and maybe your grandma's very lucky .

[@michaelashe5265]

The first question that comes to my mind which was NOT answered in this report is: Isn't there a way to ingest the betel nut in a capsule so that they can avoid the chewing and the oral cancer?

[@mariapennington5308]

So stomach or Colon cancer instead? If it's a carcinogen, it doesn't matter how you take it. It's going to give you problems.

[@matthew04101]

If you look carefully you'd see that there are a few things going on in there. I think the combination of chewing, the favor, and the effect all together that make it addictive. So making pills out of it is not going to work.

[@fritzfxx]

Thai guy rolling around listening to the early Fifty hit, P.i.M.P. a trip. The sun never sets on american culture.

[@etiletsatsi5130]

I had some betel nuts in Taiwan. The vibration of this particular psychoactive was not very wholesome. The rush was cool, but there was a comedown, as I recall, which was kinda depressing. As you might expect from any acute stimulant. Made you spit like a crested loon too.

[@DaveEPie]

Good report bro.

[@josephs3973]

Some people smoke and drink into their 90s without issue, some develop lung cancer in their 30s without ever doing either. It's a lottery but your choices do stack your odds.

[@Lccru]

Yeah, my grandpa lived to 102 and smoked all his life. Genetics are crazy. Sometimes, I wonder if I would have the same luck.

[@bayersbluebayoubioweapon8477]

In PNG, betel nut has stained everything red

[@bratsjay9535]

I think the addition of calcium hydroxide (lime) to the mix gives this colour

[@elainelindsey1306]

In south africa we eat beetle nut and paan, we add some mukwas and eat after a meal, It helps with digestion. Roasted black Beetlenut is good to lower blood pressure. Beetlenut and clove helps with congestion and cold. We also serve wedding beetlenut at our weddings but it's roasted with roasted coconut and mukwas are also added

[@behemothsbaby]

@@elainelindsey1306 , we have mukhwas without supari.

[@zolisamaine3518]

Where in south Africa?

[@Gaurav.n.jain01]

It's quite a indian thing

[@KamalasNotLikeUs]

What is mukwas?

[@nirabkarki2838]

Wow. Thought us South Asians were the only ones who consumed betel nut and leaf excessively. Didn't knew it was a cause of cancer. But we eat it differently. We eat betel nut only when they are ripe, with betel leaf(paan), unlike in Taiwan.

[@thewirah1]

You didn't know it was a cause of cancer?

[@elainelindsey1306]

South Asians mostly eat the dried form or roasted so risk of cancer is very low, Taiwanese eat it fresh so that is the problem the juices from fresh nut and lime mix is probably causing a reaction

[@behemothsbaby]

It's still a huge issue in India.

[@nirabkarki2838]

@@thewirah1 mixing it with tobacco might cause cancer but just betel nute/leaf won't cause it I think.

[@nirabkarki2838]

@@behemothsbaby Entire subcontinent I think.

[@jarjarbinks3193]

I thought chewing betel (areca) nuts (with betel leaves) was a scourge restricted to India and the adjacent countries of South Asia! 🙄In India, people also add tobacco to the mix, which increases the risk of oral cancer in the long run.

[@hln6324]

Unfortunately, they are also commonly used in Southeast Asia and Pacific island countries

[@siberiancajun]

Ok maybe I can order online. I sorry thank.

[@Arc-popz]

In ww2 my uncle was a US marine that "island hopped" from place to place driving the Japanese out of the south pacific.. He was hooked on betel nut to deal with the crazy hours and grinding hunger.

[@kospencer1]

Hence why in Taiwan most truck and taxi drivers are hooked on this thing.

[@melindajohnson3394]

I learned about it from elder Chammorans on Guam during the 80s.

[@melonshop8888]

OH REALY.

[@opaaaaaaaaaaa]

Still way better than fentenal and heroin addiction, atleast this is a performance enhancing drug.

[@Toomanian]

If you have to compare something to fentanyl to make it seem good that's a bad sign

[@ohenekojo2561]

Who said those are the alternatives?

[@JayIowa]

Definitely NOT more enjoyable than heroin

[@gergnotsloh]

@@ohenekojo2561 Among recovering addicts this is called deflection. "Well, my buddy starts drinking at 9AM. At least I wait till noon."

[@InStevenWeTrust]

The drugs you mentioned are opioids ... A better comparison would be caffeine or nicotine lol.

[@poorkid403]

my grandma used to chew this when I was a kid in vietnam. it makes your mouth brown, but it gives you energy equivalent to north american chewing tobacco

[@LamarA-bq1zz]

Their version of chewing tobacco. As a highschool baseball player I use to dip until my baseball coach found out and threatened to kick me off the team. I beat the habit using raisins because I had gotten use to having chew in my mouth. Raisins satisfied that which I stopped.

[@kaijunjiang9763]

It was everywhere in Hunan as well. It was a blue collar favorite in the 80s and 90s. Taxi drivers in Hainan chew this too.

[@TofinoRider]

I grew up in Taipei during the 80’s. I remember the Bamboo Union gang with their loud motorcycles and Beetlenut chewing. They were also the only ones with tatoos. You definitely knew who you were looking at.

[@diggingmystyle]

They still chewing that? I left in 1982 and didn't know this is still a thing today.

[@manchagojohnsonmanchago6367]

True it's crazy 🤣. Smoking a bad enough but this is such a nasty habit

[@amsf1]

Didnt realize they were so toxic

[@johnfajer7691]

Haha, he's bumpin' 50 Cent "Get Rich or Die Tryin". I see you, Betel Lord.

[@evonne315]

I like how the ladies selling it won't take it. They know it would ruin them.

[@mluc1111]

Black teeth, beautiful ladies don't look attractive

[@XYZXYZXYZXYZHOES]

I smoke cigarettes now 🚬 after getting smashed in the head by a bat, trying to help a friend. I wasn't drunk or on anything, but never saw so much of my own blood 🩸

[@hln6324]

It's not as popular with women because it stains the mouth and teeth red.

[@stedydubdetroit]

2:41 4th most consumed drug in the world⁉️ wow. And the D.A.R.E. Program never even mentioned it 😂😂👏🏽

[@KamalasNotLikeUs]

To this day, I’ve never seen the yellow jackets or black beauties that were supposed to be so scary.

[@esquad5406]

I used it one time. The top of my head felt like it was going to pop off.

[@aupiishmaelkairi3328]

I thought we in Papua New Guinea chew betelnut but then i went to Philippines n saw people chewing. N i began to chew. Wow, kept my mind awake n not sleepy. We chew betelnut with mustard seed/leaves n lime powder in PNG.

[@kospencer1]

mustard seed is one of the available combo in Taiwan as well 😂

[@jojoestranger4989]

The last time I saw people chewing this stuff in my country are old people, I rarely see any one using this nowadays.

[@scottyelder8351]

Those poor Men they are exhausted labouring all day every day it’s awful just awful I’m praying for all of them

[@lernmor2137]

Oddly enough, is there a patch similar to a nicotine patch available? Or a non-carcinogenic gum in lower concentrations?

[@mikebrown5239]

In Burma we call it Kun Ya, people chew it and spit out red liquid. It is often mixed with Indian tobacco and spices to enhance the flavor and feeling

[@snowwhiteray7692]

In India in My Language we Call it GuYa

[@RahulRk-tr7ot]

Yes. That Tobacco is the reason behind oral cancer.

[@RahulRk-tr7ot]

​@@snowwhiteray7692Which part of India you are from? Iam from Kerala. Here we call it "Murukkaan". And we have Bengalis sell them here. They call it "beeda". Slight ingredient changes. But tobacco is a must in it. Other wise no Kick. 🤣

[@snowwhiteray7692]

@@RahulRk-tr7ot i m from North Bengal chicken neck corridor area Koch Behar was our state nearing Bangladesh Nepal Bhutan

[@ronaldgomis2791]

I tried it in the Philippines. I was so drunk i couldn’t stand on my feet

[@RahulRk-tr7ot]

The thing you had Obviously had Tobacco inside it along with lime paste or something. Just betel nuts along or Betel nuts, betel leaf and lime paste wont cause cancer or any kind of drunk. The Main problem is Tobacco content inside it. By applying lime paste. The tobacco you chew get inside you viens in your mouth and then to tour brain. That is why you felt drunk.

[@XYZXYZXYZXYZHOES]

😮 I'll take 3 👾😈😼

[@tessab566]

In Papua New Guinea, upwards of 75% of the population chew betel nut, starting as teenagers. Sometimes it is used to mask hunger. Oral cancers are very common, but due to a lack of medical care, the vast majority go undetected and become terminal.

[@DaveEPie]

I was in central VN , in a Champa village. The girls took me to their grandmothers . She was 104 , very beautiful woman. She liked betel nut and a little alcohol everyday. I thought why the hell not, she is 104.

[@LliamMoore]

My entire back fence is covered in paan or betel nut. I dont eat it. Generally used in prayers

[@kennyclauw9713]

@CrAzYDAVE84 lol me to

[@honeybunch5765]

Put on some skimpy lingerie and sell them. 😊

[@LliamMoore]

Ahh yess. My business empire has begun 😎

[@craigcrawford6749]

No it's not. It's used everywhere by working class dolts

[@LliamMoore]

@@craigcrawford6749 who're you responding to?

[@AI-GV71]

Indonesian is the largest producer of betel nut in the world. They mostly export to Indian, Pakistan, Bangladesh. But very few consume it here.

[@matthewivanjudeponciano1354]

In the Philippines we call it nganga or moma. Farmers chew this before working

[@AllenHanPR]

When I was a kid visiting Taiwan I walked down a hallway at the apartment and the floor was filled with red substances. I thought someone was murdering and bleeding to death turns out it was someone spitting the Betel Nut juice.

[@LuxTenebris-hd4pp]

I’m in the US myself, but the guys who own the local gas station would chew and spit this red stuff and wasn’t sure what they were chewing. Found out it was Betel Nut when I asked them after a year or two of seeing them chew and spit it. They’d have a family member just ship it too them. Offered me some but I declined simply because at the time I was having some oral health issues and couldn’t chew.

[@xJ9pQw2sR5]

We used to chew the leaves in Singapore I don’t think we chewed the nut.. I’m not sure my grand mother used to chew it occasionally

[@vijayrk7329]

I my state in India, betel nuts leaves and lime are part of culture. I know people who chewed betel nuts all their lives and lived to be healthy even in their 90s. It's medicinal value is underrated. Cancer is probably due to chewing tobacco alongside. Looking at the nuts, the ones we chew are different , may be a variant. They are called areca nuts though

[@jaredgalvin]

This nut is chewed in some Asian countries, particularly elderly from tribes. In a province in northern Philippines a tribe chews a mixture of betel nut, dried tobacco leaf, some green leaf, and a white powder. I have never heard anyone had mouth cancer from it. The only disgusting problem with it is people spitting the red liquid after chewing which leaves red paints everywhere.

[@RahulRk-tr7ot]

Tobacco, Tobacco. The Problem is Chewing Tobacco with it. It Cause oral cancer.

[@gulgadiel]

The ladies are so beautiful in this footage, but the male customers are, uh. . . . weird looking.

[@tormmac]

well yeah, its their jobs to be hot, meanwhile the customers were rando working class dudes

[@emhq583]

In Bangladesh, it’s more common to allow the fruit to ripen, sun dry & then throw away outside husk. Very common to only chew dry nut with leaves & you can add other ingredients like tobacco, sweet, sour spices etc and this does lessen the effect but also lessons the harmfulness on your body. Some people do chew the raw nut but it’s less common & some will mix dry & raw nuts.

[@fletchercaesar20]

In my place betel nut chewing is related to longevity, most people left chewing it is at their 100s.

[@DaveEPie]

Yes,

[@SaschaPallenberg]

it almost seems that the betel nut stores in my Taipei' neighbourhood are running out of business... it's definitely not as popular as it used to be

[@nicolehall2177]

He pops 50 a day, he probably never goes on vacation away from home. Imagine getting on a plane with 7 days worth of Betel nuts. 😂

[@aguinayajolly6565]

Chewing betel nuts is a tradition here in Cordillera region of the Philippines. A lot of folks chew betel nuts here I also chew betel nuts when I was young but I stopped when I entered high school because betel nut can cause mispronounce words especially the L and R will alternate it's like speaking in Japanese language that L and are mostly interchange or pronounce them together. It's not good when you are learning English

[@kpopbillionaire]

Is that scientifically proven?😅

[@aguinayajolly6565]

@@kpopbillionaire betel nuts numbs your tongue not only cause mouth cancer that is your scientific proof. Mouth cancer is not only the problem to your gams but also affects your tongue. Your tongue is very important in speaking not just in chewing your food

[@integratedhatespreader]

"It's not good when you are learning English..'' you say. Was there ever a good reason start or continue this horrid habit that causes cancer and ruins your teeth? 🤣😂 Grammar would be the least of your concern when you'll have cancer.

[@ktothec24]

Really? That’s interesting

[@Goodluckbae-v6q]

​@@aguinayajolly6565in bicol region they chew this coz they believe it will make your teeth stronger.😂

[@scottpitner4298]

I like the way their language sounds

[@truthhandlers3000]

The indigenous peoples of Taiwan have been on the island for centuries way before the Chinese people came here. The nut culture was always a part of their heritage. I recently saw a documentary on uncontacted tribes in PNG and notice that the tribesman there also consumed the nuts. The nut culture goes much deeper than modern society.

[@motorola9956]

Areca nut chewing originates amongst Austronesian people.

[@manchagojohnsonmanchago6367]

​@@motorola9956Taiwanese are Austronesian people...

[@stevek8]

Lol. I went to Taiwan in 1998 for 2 weeks ro visit my cousin. I asked him if it was blood all over the streets. He told me what it was and said that all of the taxi drivers used it, which explained all of the blood looking staind on the deiver side doors from spitting.

[@thereaper7682]

In northeast India betel nut is so popular and common for people to chew cause it's a tradition and I have stopped chewing it for years. Thank God

[@wisalnisar5412]

Betel nut chewing casues oral submucous fibrosis a condition in which the mouth muscles loses elasticity become rigid and opening is limited. Osf is condition that can progress to oral cancer.

[@1425363878]

Taiwan is amazing and betel nuts are really fun. The effect is meh, the taste is urgh, but after eating one the next beer is the best thing you will have ever had in your life. Omg I miss Taiwan so much.

[@JergBizcochino]

Funny how this is depicted to be so seedy and unhealthy, yet a video about Sweden’s widespread use of nicotine ‘snus’ packets is depicted to be a trendy alternative to smoking as if that made it healthier lol.

[@firstname__lastname]

Betel nut is really big in the Middle East, SE Asia and parts of Africa as well. Most people who chew it are labour workers, taxi/ tuktuk/ truck drivers or people who work long long, hard hours. Also, some people use it just to hang out with others and have conversations…

[@zoluhwa3508]

Im from Micronesia....yeah its a problem here also, mouth cancer and betelnut spit stains everywhere

[@henryberto3030]

In northern part of the Philippines particularly in cordillera region Igorot people chew betel nuts as alternative for smoking

[@jw5275]

My neighbor was from Bangladesh and her mother chewed them all day. Her teeth freaked me out when I was young lol

[@vonvon9712]

Same in a tribe in Philippines they chew betel nut a lot and they spit it on a rock

[@tainanking]

I saw some college homies eating this. I’ve done some crazy stuff but no matter what betel does or what people say it does, it just looks awful and then you spit out this red liquid. No thanks. Never done. Never will

[@hemanthshankarappa7550]

This is a common addiction in India as well, especially in the rural communities. It is banned in some states and other states are reluctant to ban the consumption of beetel nuts since it's a vital source of income for many farmers. Many farmers are resorting to beetel nut farming to make a quick buck without any considertaion of the deadly effects.

[@darwinqpenaflorida3797]

In Cordillera Administriative Region, the betel nuts is known as Nganga which is common of Cordillera tribes like Igorots but Baguio City, betel nut chewing is restricted because of sidewalk problem of spitting 😊😊 In Indonesia, betel nuts was known as Pinang however most commonly in Papua Province and the country is the third largest producer of betel nuts 😊😊

[@kzm-cb5mr]

Lowlander Filipinos also consumed this a lot back in the day... just not as common anymore.

[@darwinqpenaflorida3797]

@@kzm-cb5mr Yeah 😊😊

[@VoidHalo]

I got a tin of betel nuts from an Indian grocer here in Canada before. It wasn't great. It was diced into little dried cubes that were covered in lime (mineral, not fruit) so it looked like kitty litter. There wasn't really any taste, and they were rock hard, so chewing them was difficult. The actual effect wasn't even as strong as a cup of coffee. I couldn't even notice it. Paan masala, betel nut with various spices mixed in is much more enjoyable. I've had some very tasty blends. Would highly recommend if you're in India or near an Indian grocer. Not so much the betel nut itself, though.

[@MaitooHauirae]

It’s chewed from India in Asia to Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. Cannot be banned, it’s deeply rooted in indigenous culture..

[@kotorisama3080]

Aint it crazy that these are traditional wedding gifts in Vietnam?

[@edw8889]

I lived on Guam and Saipan as a kid. All the old ladies spit the red juice out everywhere.

[@veo16]

I wonder if betel leaf is also considered a drug. Since it’s used in lots of recipes in various countries.

[@AninaSabry]

but they mixed it with a certain leave,tobaco and a powder with small pcs. of each ingredients

[@michaeldhondt368]

I had this in India it came in a foil pouch and was mixed with tobacco and spices

[@genetung8590]

In moderation, I love it and would highly recommend it when visiting Taiwan.

[@darthbiker2311]

Betel nut is gross. We have that in the Philippines too (moma seeds or "nganga") and the only ones who chew them now are people in the mountainous north where it's cold. They do increase cancer risk and certainly the discoloration of teeth.

[@ProximaCentauri88]

This practice is very common from Taiwan to Southeast Asia and the Pacific. I think it's the Austronesian connection. I'm Filipino and the last people to chew betel in our clan were our grandparents. I've tried once but didn't get the hang of it. I know how to prepare betel nut, betel leaf, and lime. This is still widely practiced in the Cordillera region of the Philippines. I've seen young men there chewing betel.

[@PinayPay_Singapore]

In northern part of the Philippines A set of ripe and pealed Betle nut, betle leaf, lime powder and a tobacco leaf are mostly eaten by the IP and ilocanos as part of our culture..i grew up in a family that mostly ate this strangely though i never had a liking of it..i did try 1 time and i got dizzy after a few minutes chewing it and i never did it again ever since

[@thepresentmoment369]

The MP is right. If they create laws banning Betelnut it will just go underground and people will be afraid to seek treatment or help for their mouths. Anything that becomes illegal just gets more desirable by the people and more profitable for the sellers.

[@thedefaultuser]

This is called "Moma" in our place. Unlike in Taiwan, ours comes in a plastic bag containing all of the ingredients, you create your own to your liking.

[@TheMostPwettyiestPwincess]

We also practice the same thing in the Igorot culture. Put a little bit of Gawed/Betel leaves to enjoy the full effects.

[@williamlouie569]

Noticed there's decline in many of these betel nut stores. Seeing less and less these stores!

[@KBratcher11]

I met some pacific islanders on a trip one time. They were all chewing beetle with the leaf and some white power on it. So I tried it and it didn't make you feel any different. It's kind of like Old school chaw.

[@richardrobinson1651]

I visited my Dad who lived in Taichung in the early 90s. All the cabbies chewed that muck. They'd pull over in traffic and spit green gunk onto the road. Or, even worse, walk around with a cup full of spit. I tried it once. Yep, it makes you salivate heavily and you need to spit it out. Truly vile and i didn't get any kind of buzz out of it.

[@rizalalejandro1917]

we also have this in the Philippines

[@rmglabog]

I didn't know it's popular in Taiwan. Usually, in Thailand and Myanmar that people like this.

[@masterchiefy830]

igorots in the Philippines also uses this but having cancer is rarely because they chew around 5-10 times a day but this guys go round 30+ above...

[@worldtravel9967]

My wife's Thai grandma still chews everyday she's 93 I think it's a lie it's bad for you. Those males were probably smoker's

[@RahulRk-tr7ot]

Listen. The problem is Chewing it along with Tobacco. That is the reason behind oral cancer. Betel leaf or nuts alone wont be any problem.

[@AprilGarcia-sm4bi]

When my uncle came back from the Vietnam War I remember him telling my dad about these dried up beetles that some guys would stick in their lip like tobacco and suck on it to get high. He said they would know who to ask if they wanted to get high because their teeth were stained. I wonder if this is what he was talking about and my young mind heard 'betel' and thought it was really a bug. Lol

[@DaveEPie]

Yes friend, it’s in VN- Mostly just really old ladies out in the country. I can imagine your young mind thinking beatle, as in a bug haha

[@AprilGarcia-sm4bi]

@DaveEPie It's funny how kids interpret things sometimes. But it's even funnier to think I still had that flawed information in my brain until I saw this video. Lol. Thanks for the confirmation. I appreciate the feedback

[@jerryking45]

So what’s the active ingredient??

[@RabbitWatchShop]

arecoline

[@BXLrules]

betel

[@jerryking45]

@@RabbitWatchShop that’s interesting thank you. . I’m gonna look it up. I’m wondering what class it belongs? Or whatever you call it.

[@neildeleon5983]

I think most of the people taking this has prolonged their life

[@willelliott5052]

My introduction to this began on a trip to Palau. Much of the male population chews it. They appear to spit blood.

[@tw19801113]

sauce:Star anise, tobacco leaves, licorice.

[@owl6218]

in india, this nut grows in assam...and yes, ppl there are addicted to the raw nut. in india, it is the dried, or roasted version that is popular. it is added to the 'paan' made with betel leaves ( comes from a different plant, a vine, unlike the nut that grows on trees). paan is no less of a problem. lime is added, and that infamous red spit that is all over the ground. worse, in india, they add tobacco to ground betel nuts and paan, and that combination is addictive, and cancer causing.

[@peonymagenta5139]

Oh my God i’m batak tribe from indonesia, i think this is austronesian culture because my grandma chewed it too, without the smoking tho. The effects on her were the discoloration of teeth and addiction, she chewed it with calcium hydroxide I think, we called it kapur sirih here. Now not many people do it, maybe more in rural area, people often smoke here though, you choose your poison at the end. It’s fascinating that we even have relics of betel nuts container from long time ago.