Khat

Chewing khat leaves in the afternoon is a daily ritual for millions of Yemenis – and the plant has taken over many former coffee fields.

Khat is an evergreen shrub or tree growing to several metres, with leathery, toothed leaves and small whitish flowers. The young leaves and shoots contain cathinone – a stimulant with effects similar to, but weaker than, amphetamine. It grows in the mountains of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula at 1,500–2,500 m. It is a controlled substance in many countries.

Significance in the country

Chewing khat at afternoon gatherings (takhzin) is central to social life in Yemen. Growing it, however, consumes enormous amounts of water and is displacing traditional coffee and cereal crops, one of the country’s serious problems.

Where it grows

Grown on terraces and in valleys throughout Yemen’s western mountains – from Saada in the north, through the areas around Sana’a, Amran and Dhamar, to Ibb and Taiz in the south.

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