If you are visiting Papua New Guinea, the first thing you will notice is the bright red teeth and lips of the local men and women. The cause of this particular color is betel nuts, which the locals call "buai". Green betel nuts are a fruit that grows in the tropical climates of Southeast Asia and is very popular in the islands of the South Pacific. They can be found at every corner on the streets of Papua New Guinea and are chewed as a key part of the most important social events, but also in everyday life. Betel nut has a mildly stimulating effect and, in addition to traditional reasons, locals chew it to reduce stress, increase alertness and suppress hunger.
Many tourists try to taste betel nut, as it is part of the traditional culture of Papua New Guinea. Also, if a visitor goes to dinner with a local, they will most likely receive betel nut as a welcome offering. If you want to learn how to chew betel nut, follow these steps.
Steps
Step 1. Gather the ingredients you need to chew the betel nut
You'll need a green betel nut (buai), a jar or package of lime powder (kambang), and a mustard-like green bean-shaped food (daka). You can buy everything you need in any small shop for around one kina (30 cents).
Step 2. Open the betel nut by squeezing the shell with your teeth
Remove the fruit from the shell and start chewing it. Do not swallow the fibrous residues of the walnut, as it could cause stomach pain.
Step 3. Chew the betel nut for 2-5 minutes or until a lump forms in your mouth
Step 4. Lightly moisten the mustard seeds with your mouth and dip them into the lime powder package
Step 5. Move the betel nut lump to the side and bite into a piece of mustard seed with lime powder on it
Make sure you don't put the lime in your mouth directly, as it may pinch. Try to bite into the mustard seed, inserting it directly into the betel nut lump. By chewing this compound you will cause a chemical reaction that will dye your teeth and mouth red and have a slightly astonishing effect.
Step 6. While chewing, spit out the fibrous residue from the walnut
Most people tend to spit on the street, so it's common to find red betel nut stains on streets and sidewalks.
Step 7. Continue chewing until there is no betel nut left
You may feel slightly euphoric due to the mildly stimulating effects of this fruit.
Advice
Ask any Papua New Guinean for help if you are undecided about how to chew walnut properly. They will be more than happy to help you on your first betel nut experience
Warnings
- Don't chew betel nut unless you are aware of the risks. It is a drug and can be addictive.
- Be careful when spitting out betel nut juice (and be careful not to get spit on yourself) when in a public place. Locals tend not to pay too much attention to where they spit out the leftovers of this fruit.
- Betel nut has been shown to be a carcinogen. Although relatively rare in other countries, oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignant cancer in Papua New Guinea, with an average mortality of 47% within 5 years of diagnosis. One study shows that chewing betel nut increases the risk of oral cancer by 28 times. Betel nut is sold in convenient tea bags, but the carcinogenic effects of the packages have not yet been proven. Try to be cautious.
- Betel nut will make your teeth and lips very red: if chewed very frequently, the effect could become permanent. Chewing for prolonged periods of time can lead to gum and tooth disease.
- The Papua New Guinea Department of Health does not encourage chewing of betel nut, as it is believed to be a common cause of oral cancer.
- Red juice can leave hard-to-remove stains on clothes.
- Do not visit the public betel nut markets alone, if you are a tourist or an expat. Go with a local guide, as this kind of place, especially in Port Moresby, often hosts several illegal activities.
- Ingesting betel nut can promote the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called Gehrig's disease.
- Betel nut is often compared to tobacco. It can be addictive and become a habit. At several places in Papua New Guinea you will find No Betel Nut signs, similar to the No Smoking signs.
