What Is a Betel Nut?

A betel nut, also called the areca nut, is n seed that comes from the betel palm (Areca catechu, of the Palmaceae family), also called the areca palm. It is chewed at times along with the leaf of the betel palm.

Betel Palm

• The betel palm is a pinnate tree that grows around five feet tall and is cultivated for the betel nut as well as the betel leaf in India, Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Africa, southern China, the Philippine Islands and Malaysia.

Features

• The betel nut is orange and has a fibrous outer husk. It is harvested (August through November) before it fully ripens, husked, boiled, sliced and dried. The sliced nut becomes black to dark brown in the final product.

Function

• The betel nut functions as a stimulant and can be chewed with the betel leaf, as well as the mineral lime.

  Other than as a stimulant, the betel nut has uses in Ayurveda, including such things as fighting bad breath, worms, kindling passion, inducing purification and removing phlegm.

History

• The modern name betel nut dates from around 1673.

  The betel nut has been mentioned in Sanskrit documents for its chewing usage as far back as the first century.

Dangers

• Betel nut chewing has been linked to DNA damage, damaged fetuses and increased risk of certain cancers, including mouth cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer and pharynx cancer.