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By
: Prak Chan Thul, Picture by : Sovann Kry.
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Picture
shows what it takes to make a good chew.
A - Betel Leaves;
B - Areca Nuts (Dark
coloured slices are dried);
C - Lime or Paste
made from crushed seashells;
D - Tobacco
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Sitting
serenely in her doorway with an old, worn
betel basket on her knee, Ourng Long, 67,
of Siem Reap province, is ready to begin folding
betel leaves in preparation for chewing after
her family's dinner.
The Cambodian tradition of chewing betel leaves,
areca nuts and tobacco is age-old. The older
generation used to advise people to chew betel,
areca and tobacco, as it was thought chewing
would help maintain good dental health.
Cambodian people still preserve many of the
traditions handed down to them by their ancestors.
Many still play the same games at festivals
and holidays as their great-grandparents did
in the past. Chewing betel leaves, areca nuts
and tobacco is another of these traditions
inherited from the generations of the past.
Now, health organizations are becoming concerned
about the dental dilemma facing Khmer people
when they decide to chew betel, areca or tobacco.
Many is simply not aware that there is a dental
health issue surrounding the habit of chewing.
The Ministry of Health, NGOs and local organizations
are helping to promote more awareness of dental
care. Yet it seems unlikely any health message
will persuade people who routinely chew the
nuts and leaves to change their ways.
People who regularly chew betel leaves, areca
nut and tobacco generally do not visit dentists.
They tend to live in rural villages, and be
far away from their nearest oral hygienist.
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But some
believe that chewing betel leaves, areca nut and
tobacco can actually safeguard the teeth from diseases.
Ourng Long certainly thinks so: "I started
chewing when I was 20 years old," she said.
"And I have never had any tooth pain or other
problems at all."
Khmer people have munched on betel leaves and areca
nuts since ancient times. Centuries ago, people
would munch on betel and areca together, and then
spit out a blood-colored mix of saliva and the chewed-up
leaves and nuts. Afterwards, they would chew tobacco.
There are no documents that state when this tradition
began, and nobody seems to know where it originated.
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Ourng Long
describes how she picked up the habit: "I saw
my parents chewing, and so I followed their routine,"
she said. Few can describe the way chewing the nuts
and leaves tastes. It's a bit like smoking - people
chew for pleasure, especially after a meal or during
family meetings.
"I chew it after my meal and I do this not
because it is delicious but because I have nothing
to do so I just chew it to get pleasure," said
Uch Thouerng, 75, of Kandal province.
Sometimes people in the countryside serve betel,
areca and tobacco to |
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A set consisting of betel leaves,
areca nuts, lime or crushed shell paste and tobacco.
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Wrapping the areca nut with
betel leaf and knowing just the right amount of
lime to add is itself an art to be acquired.
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houseguests
and monks in the pagoda. Chewing also plays an important
part in traditional wedding ceremonies. The bride
and groom's parents exchange betel leaf and customarily
chew the stuff to signify acceptance of each other's
children into their family. It's like a signing
ceremony of sorts.
Currently, many elderly people still carry on the
custom of munching betel leaves, areca nut and tobacco.
But very few young Cambodians munch on the leaves
and nuts these days - most think of it as a dirty
habit, and not a particularly attractive one. Nowadays,
teenagers are more likely to smoke cigarettes than
munch on betel leaves like their ancestors. On the
contrary, their |
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Madam Uch Thouerng cleaning
her teeth with tobacco after she is done
with chewing betel leave with areca nut.
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grandparents think munching
leaves will protect them from toothache and bad
breath. "I never clean my teeth like other
people and I never have any dental problems,"
Uch Thouerng said. She started chewing betel leaves,
areca nut and tobacco when she was 55 years old.
Normally she chews for about five minutes, spits
the mush out, then chews tobacco for about five
minutes. She also cleans her teeth with tobacco.
Different people like to chew for different times.
Ourng Long munches betel leaves with areca nut for
about ten minutes, spits them out and then chews
tobacco for about half an hour.
If you are interested in munching on leaves and
nuts, you should give it a try. Betel leaves, areca
nut and tobacco are available all over Cambodia,
and are very cheap. First, take one betel leaf painted
with lime, and fold areca nut inside it. This is
not too complicated - it's a bit like eating a hamburger.
You just munch on it for two or three minutes, then
spit out. Afterwards, chew tobacco leaves for about
ten minutes, then spit them out too. The tradition
of munching betel |
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Traditionally men and
women adopt a different shape when folding
betel leaves. Picture above shows three
different shapes. The one on the left is
for women and the right is for men. However,
people nowadays would
simply fold like the one in the middle without
fuss.
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| leaves
and chewing tobacco is a positive one, since
no one has proved there's anything harmful
about it. It's something that attracts locals
and foreigners to find out more about it.
Some people might think that it's a dirty
habit, but it isn't, it's a valuable tradition
that people just can't stop doing. All Khmer
people like preserving the things that our
ancestors left behind. The tradition of chewing
betel leaves; areca nut and tobacco will remain
within our culture for many years to come.
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Suite
B8, Regency Square, InterContinental Hotel, 294 Mao
Tse Toung Boulevard,
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia.
Tel: (855) 23 213 133 Fax: (855) 23 213
033
E-mail:
editor@leisurecambodia.com |
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