Betel is an immature fruit of the areca catechu. It is a slender, 15-meter-high palm from the areca family. Areka is probably a tree native to Malaysia, but it commonly grows on tropical islands in the Pacific Ocean, Asia and even East Africa. Areka is grown intentionally for its fruits across East Asia.

Traditional use

The immature fruits of the areca are wrapped in a leaf of plants of the Piperaceae family, sometimes lime is added. Such wrap is then chewed and the active ingredients are released from the areca. However, we do not recommend this method of use, because lime is corrosive and betel nuts stain the teeth red. In addition, only fresh raw nuts can be used in this way, dried nuts cannot be chewed. There is reportedly a direct link between chewing betel and oral cancer.

Using betel nut powder

The usual dose of one betel wrap is about half a nut. This could correspond to about half a teaspoon, or one whole teaspoon of powder at maximum. We suggest mixing the powder in hot water, letting it infuse for 15 minutes and then drinking it with the sediment.