In the above cartoon, because this person loves to chew betel nut, various places are now introducing a policy to ban betel nut, and everyone knows that chewing too much betel nut will lead to oral deformation and oral cancer. But why do so many people chew betel nuts? What is the magic of betel nut?
Chewing betel nut is a special hobby of the amazing, Dai, Dai and Eddy people of many countries and peoples in Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam.
The 5 pictures above show the process of the betel nut tree from growth to fruiting. The betel nut tree is an evergreen tree in the palm family. There are two kinds of red betel nut and white betel nut. The fruit of the white betel nut is large, white and hard, and it must be cut into small pieces when chewing, one at a time. The fruit of red betel nut is orange-red, like red dates, small and soft, and can be chewed whole at a time. Chewing betel nut has the functions of accumulation, water, insecticide, anesthesia, etc., and protects the teeth. When chewing, wrap a little lime or inkstone ash with mushroom leaves, and then put it in the mouth and chew with betel nut, so that betel nut plays a chemical role, turns blood-red juice, spits out slag, swallows juice, ash makes people intoxicated, produces a feeling of drowsiness, chewing addiction for a long time, like smoking, drinking. They chew more after meals, especially hospitality and gift-giving.
Vietnamese Kinh people also regard betel nut as a souvenir, whether they propose marriage or invite guests, they will give each other a betel nut, such as a Han invitation. Chewing betel nut has another meaning, long-term chewing, human teeth are dyed dark color, which is what mainland ancient books call "pitch black" or "black tooth", and thus call these peoples "lacquered tooth barbarian" or "black tooth barbarian". These peoples also regard their "lacquered teeth" and "black teeth" as their beauty.
Xiaobian still recommends that people who love to chew betel nut chew less, one is for their own health, and the other is for their own beauty.