Betel and Areca Nuts

When I was in Hoi An, I saw an older lady with dyed brown teeth. My younger brother asked me about this.

I remembered our grandmother had the dyed brown teeth. It had something to do with stuff that they chewed. It seemed like they were chewing tobacco, but it’s not. They are betel and areca nuts. The women teeth are dyed brown so they wouldn’t get stained. I don’t remember ever seeing my grandmother chewed betel and areca nuts. I read somewhere that in some culture, the teeth stained red or black indicates marriage ability or coming of age.

According to the legends, this custom was popularized during the Hung Vuong Era, and closely follows the famous fairy tale of the "Story of the Betel and Areca Nut". A quid of betel consists of four materials: an areca leaf (sweet taste), a betel bark (hot taste), a chay root (bitter taste), and hydrated lime (pungent taste). The custom of chewing betel nut is unique to Vietnam. Old health books claim that "chewing betel and areca nut makes the mouth fragrant, decreasing bad tempers, and makes digesting food easy". A quid of betel makes people become closer and more openhearted.

A quid of betel makes people become closer and more openhearted. At any wedding ceremony, there must be a dish of betel and areca nut, which people can share as they joy the special occasion. During festival or Tet Holidays, betel and areca nut is used for inviting visitors and making acquaintances. Sharing a quid of betel with an old friend is like expressing the gratitude for the relationship. A quid of betel and areca nut makes people feel warm on cold winters days, and during funerals, it relieves the sadness. Betel and areca nuts are also used in offerings. When Vietnamese people worship their ancestors, betel and areca nut must be present at the altar. Nowadays, the custom of chewing betel remains popular in some Vietnamese village and among the old.