Betel Nut Smile, Hoi An, Vietnam
The Betel Nut is the fruit of the areca palm. It is traditionally ground with mortar and pestle, mixed with a bit of limestone and made into a paste. Just one "chew" is generally prepared at a time, sometimes with tobacco added to prolong the experience. A red stain colors the mouth as well as any place the sputum is cast, and the teeth develop a telltale black coating. When first seen, the redness could easliy be mistaken for a serious wound and spitting blood. Mostly a habit forming pastime among lower economic class in rural areas, the nut preparation may have some pain killing effects. While betel use is slowly dying out in cities, it still is a traditional part of most every non-Christian wedding in Vietnam, with a legend linking it to love and marriage. Any takers? (I put this image in after mine quite by accident, but don't hesitate to go back a pic and notice how good that last person looked...)
The Betel Nut is the fruit of the areca palm. It is traditionally ground with mortar and pestle, mixed with a bit of limestone and made into a paste. Just one "chew" is generally prepared at a time, sometimes with tobacco added to prolong the experience. A red stain colors the mouth as well as any place the sputum is cast, and the teeth develop a telltale black coating. When first seen, the redness could easliy be mistaken for a serious wound and spitting blood. Mostly a habit forming pastime among lower economic class in rural areas, the nut preparation may have some pain killing effects. While betel use is slowly dying out in cities, it still is a traditional part of most every non-Christian wedding in Vietnam, with a legend linking it to love and marriage. Any takers? (I put this image in after mine quite by accident, but don't hesitate to go back a pic and notice how good that last person looked...)
Betel Nut Smile, Hoi An, Vietnam
The Betel Nut is the fruit of the areca palm. It is traditionally ground with mortar and pestle, mixed with a bit of limestone and made into a paste. Just one "chew" is generally prepared at a time, sometimes with tobacco added to prolong the experience. A red stain colors the mouth as well as any place the sputum is cast, and the teeth develop a telltale black coating. When first seen, the redness could easliy be mistaken for a serious wound and spitting blood. Mostly a habit forming pastime among lower economic class in rural areas, the nut preparation may have some pain killing effects. While betel use is slowly dying out in cities, it still is a traditional part of most every non-Christian wedding in Vietnam, with a legend linking it to love and marriage. Any takers? (I put this image in after mine quite by accident, but don't hesitate to go back a pic and notice how good that last person looked...)
The Betel Nut is the fruit of the areca palm. It is traditionally ground with mortar and pestle, mixed with a bit of limestone and made into a paste. Just one "chew" is generally prepared at a time, sometimes with tobacco added to prolong the experience. A red stain colors the mouth as well as any place the sputum is cast, and the teeth develop a telltale black coating. When first seen, the redness could easliy be mistaken for a serious wound and spitting blood. Mostly a habit forming pastime among lower economic class in rural areas, the nut preparation may have some pain killing effects. While betel use is slowly dying out in cities, it still is a traditional part of most every non-Christian wedding in Vietnam, with a legend linking it to love and marriage. Any takers? (I put this image in after mine quite by accident, but don't hesitate to go back a pic and notice how good that last person looked...)
See photo in original gallery.
