Betel nut (
Areca catechu L.) is popular for chewing throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Basically, people chew the betel nut with the leaves (and/or inflorescence) of
Piper betle L. and lime. Other substances are often added to the above three, in particular spices (e.g., cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, etc.), gambir, and tobacco according to local preferences. However, Kawatoko (2007) reported that people in Taiwan do not add tobacco to the betel nut when chewing. In this study, usage of the betel nut by the indigenous peoples of Taiwan and people in Micronesia near Taiwan was studied to reveal whether they add (or had ever added) tobacco when chewing betel nut. In
Banzoku Kanshuu Chousa Houkokusho (1915-22) and
Banzoku Chousa Houkokusho (1913-21), which are detailed reports of the indigenous peoples of Taiwan by Japanese anthropologists, there are many records of betel nut usage (including medical and ritual), especially for Amis, Puyuma, Paiwan and Rukai peoples, but chewing betel nut with tobacco was not found. However, a field survey conducted in November 2015, identified that 9 (1 Amis, 6 Paiwan, and 2 Rukai) of the 29 people interviewed had observed some people chewing betel nut with tobacco. This is the first record of this usage from Taiwan, but betel nut chewing with tobacco does not appear popular in Taiwan. By contrast, Hijikata (1992) reported that people in Palau chewed betel nut with tobacco when Japanese occupied the region before World War II. Moreover, a field survey conducted in August 2015, suggested that people in the Yap Islands also seemed to have chewed betel nut with tobacco before the World War II. It is thereby confirmed that the betel nut chewing with tobacco has been continuously popular in this region of Micronesia.
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