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In Vietnam, the areca nut and the betel leaf are such important symbols of love and marriage that in Vietnamese the phrase "matters of betel and areca" (chuyện trầu cau) were historically synonymous with marriage. Areca nut chewing starts the talk between the groom's parents and the bride's parents about the young couple's marriage.
The best-known member of the genus is A. catechu, the areca nut palm. [1] [4] Several species of areca nuts, known for their bitter and tangy taste, raw or dried, are routinely used for chewing, especially in combination with the leaves of betel and dried leaves of tobacco.
Common names in English include areca palm, areca nut palm, betel palm, betel nut palm, Indian nut, Pinang palm and catechu. [1] This palm is commonly called the betel tree because its fruit, the areca nut , which are often chewed along with the betel leaf , a leaf from a vine of the family Piperaceae .
The areca nut (/ ˈ ær ɪ k ə / or / ə ˈ r iː k ə /) or betel nut is the fruit of the areca palm (Areca catechu). The palm is originally native to the Philippines , [ 1 ] [ 2 ] but was carried widely through the tropics by the Austronesian migrations and trade since at least 1500 B.C. due to its use in betel nut chewing . [ 1 ]
Betel quid chewing has always been an important part of Thai culture and tradition. In the past, betel chewing was a popular daily activity among Thais all over the country. [ 1 ] Betel comes from the plant known as Areca catechu , which grows wild all over Thailand and is known as หมาก (maak).
Gutka street vendor, India. Gutka, ghutka, guṭkha is a type of betel quid and chewing tobacco preparation made of crushed areca nut (also called betel nut), tobacco, catechu, paraffin wax, slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) and sweet or savory flavourings, in India, Pakistan, other Asian countries, and North America.
Betel chewing in China has a long history, particularly in the southern provinces. In modern times, betel nut chewing is popular nationwide. The social debate over betel nut chewing has led the authorities to introduce some restriction policies, though almost all cities in the country still allow the production, sale, and consumption of betel nut.
The practice of chewing areca nuts originated in Island Southeast Asia, where the areca palm is native. The oldest known evidence of areca nut chewing was found in a burial pit in the Duyong Cave site in the Philippines (to which areca palms are native), which dates to around 4,630±250 BP.