Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BETEL JUICE
Anyone who spends more than a day in Myanmar will notice two particularly curious fea-
tures of the country - the wretched state of many locals' teeth, and the odd red blotches
peppering each and every road across the land. These are both related to the chewing of
betel
(
ku-nya
), a popular pastime with male and female, young and old. To make betel,
areca nuts are placed, together with tobacco and other optional ingredients, into a leaf pas-
ted with
slakedlime
.Usersexperience aslight rush,similar tothat ofcoffee oracigarette.
Addiction can develop quickly and repeated use can lead to
oralcancer
, though more of a
guarantee is wretchedly
damaged teeth
.
Oneortwoparcelsareunlikelytohurt,however,andsometravellersarekeentoseewhat
all the fuss is about; the tastiest is said to come from the
Kalaw
area. Parcels are sold in
packs from roadside stalls all over Myanmar, with prices as low as K100 for a pack of
three. If you're chewing, remember to spit out the first few times your mouth fills with
saliva, since the slaked lime can (ultimately) destroy your liver.
