Areca palm

Betel chewing is a daily ritual in Palau – the nut, with a pepper leaf and lime, is offered to guests and even taken to work.

The areca palm is a slender palm growing to about 20 m, with a straight trunk marked by distinct rings left by fallen leaves and a crown of pinnate leaves. Its fruits, borne in large bunches, contain hard seeds – betel nuts. These are chewed with a betel pepper leaf and lime from burnt coral, which produces a mild stimulant effect and stains the saliva red. Long-term chewing, especially with added tobacco, significantly increases the risk of oral cancer.

Significance in the country

Palau has one of the highest proportions of betel chewers in the Pacific – the betel set is a fixture of social gatherings and family celebrations. Local health campaigns are fighting the popular habit of adding cigarettes to the chew.

Where it grows

Grown beside houses and in gardens on Babeldaob, in Koror and on Peleliu, Angaur and Kayangel.

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