Areca nut

Betel Nut (Areca catechu) is a species of palm tree which grows throughout the Pacific and Asia. The nuts contain a mildly stimulant alkaloid named arecoline. The nut is chewed in a wide variety of cultures and sometimes is wrapped in betel pepper leaf, mixed with lime or spices to better extract the stimulant. Betel nut chewing causes the teeth to be stained red; however, it may also reduce cavities. Since chewing Betel induces copious sputum, trails of bright red expectorant along the sidewalks are indicative of its popularity in a place.

In Taiwan, betel nut shops typically have large picture windows behind which a young attractive woman who is usually not wearing very much are wrapping betel nuts.