Betel nut, also known as Bettlenut, Paaku, Pinang,
Areca nut or Cau in Vietnamese, Chalia in the Hindi language, Tamol in Assamese language, Kwai in Khasi language, Adike in Kannada language, Supari in Marathi and Bengali language and Bīnláng in Taiwan, is not a true nut but rather a drupe, the seed of the Betel palm (Areca catechu).
Betel nuts can be chewed for their effects as a mildly euphoric stimulant,
attributed to the presence of relatively high levels of psychoactive alkaloids. Chewing it increases the capacity to work, also causes a hot sensation in
the body, heightened alertness and sweating. Chewing betel nuts is an important and popular cultural activity in many Asian countries.[citation needed] It is also used as an offering in Hinduism. In East and North-east India, Betel nut is chewed with Paan (Betel leaf). Betel nut and betel leaves are different in chemical compositions. Betel
nuts contain arecaidine and guacine whereas the betel leaf oil contains a number of terpeneols.
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