Betel Nut Chewer - Honiara, Solomon Islands

Betel nut may be pleasant, but it does have a lasting effect.

The red is actually caused by an interaction between the nut iself and the powdered quicklime that is taken with it. The lime is extremely corrosive (duh) and often causes cancers and even perforation of the cheek. All things, considered, I think I'll stick with kava, whose effects are decidedly more transient.

August, 2007

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