According to legends, chewing quid of betel and areca has been a custom since the Hung king dynasty and is connected to the antique legend of betel and areca. It is looks like gum because they chew it very long, may be longer than gum.
A quid of betel, also called "trau", is composed of four elements: an areca leaf (sweet taste), betel bark (hot taste), a chay root (bitter taste), and hydrated lime (pungent taste). The custom of chewing betel nut is unique to Vietnam. Old health books claim that "chewing betel and areca nut makes the mouth fragrant, decreases bad tempers, and makes digesting food easy". A quid of betel makes people become closer and more open heart. At any wedding ceremony of Kinh ethnic(the biggest ethnic in Vietnam), there must be a dish of betel and areca nut, which people can share as they enjoy the special occasion.
During festivals or Tet Holidays, betel and areca nut is used for inviting visitors and making acquaintances. Sharing a quid of betel with an old friend is like expressing gratitude for the relationship. A quid of betel and areca nut makes people feel warm on cold winters days, and during funerals it relieves sadness. Betel and areca nuts are also used in offerings. When Kinh people worship their ancestors, betel and areca nut must be present at the altar. Nowadays, the custom of chewing betel remains popular in some villages and among the old.
There is one more thing that is famous as Cuban cigar, it is waterpipe tobacco. For women, betel can initiate various feminine conversation, but for men, waterpipe tobacco is related to their joyfulness as well as the sadness in their lives. Farmers always carry their dieu cay (pipe for smoking while ploughing the rice fields). Tobacco will be smoked in a pipe, a bow or a big and short pipe. They will round tobacco and put it into a hole on a pipe or a bow, burn and smoke.
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