Areca nut

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Areca Nut

The Areca Nut (pronunciation: /ˈærɪkə/), also known as the betel nut, is the seed of the areca palm (Areca catechu), which grows in much of the tropical Pacific, Southeast and South Asia, and parts of east Africa.

Etymology

The term "Areca" originated from a South Asian word during the 16th century, when Dutch and Portuguese sailors took the nut from Kerala to Europe. The word "Areca" is derived from a name used locally on the Malabar Coast of India.

Description

The Areca nut is not a true nut, but rather a drupe. It is commercially available in dried, cured, and fresh forms. When the husk of the fresh fruit is green, the nut inside is soft enough to be cut with a typical knife. In the ripe fruit, the husk becomes yellow or orange, and as it dries, the fruit inside hardens to a wood-like consistency.

Usage

The Areca nut is often used in a traditional form of chewing tobacco known as paan. Paan is a preparation combining betel leaf with areca nut widely consumed throughout South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan.

Health Effects

Chewing the Areca nut has been linked to a number of adverse health effects, including oral submucous fibrosis and oral cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the Areca nut as a Group 1 carcinogen.

Related Terms

External links

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