Betel nut                                                                       Betel nut trees http://smc.kisti.re.kr/banna/trepalhyd/pal04.html

Betel nut is a common crop in Taiwan for chewing. It is similar to chewing tobacco like Skoal or Redman. Betel nut is wrapped in a betal leaf and usually seen in Taiwan and sold by what we call a betel nut beauty(檳榔西施: bīnláng xīshī) along roadsides.

Betel nut is called “Taiwanese chewing gum” in Taiwan, however betel nut may cause oral cancer. A study reveals that oral cancer occupied the 4-5th rankings for causes of caner death, and this is due to the Taiwanese habit of chewing betel nut. So how about trying betel nut flavor chewing gum with vitamin supplements! Fresher, healthier.

Though betel nuts are chewed in many regions of the Asian-Pacific, the betel nut beauty phenomenon is distinctly Taiwanese. Also the betel nut beauty is an icon of Taiwanese culture and appears frequently in art, film, and even betel nut beauty figures from vending machines.

see more betel nut beauties on Flickr and youtube. Don't forget read the stories here.