Whilst walking through Quiapo we came upon an Igorot (native of Kalinga-Apayao) looking woman selling Betel nuts, tobacco leaves etc.
Amongst her wares, she also had tobacco leaves, green leaves called Gawid, Apog (lime ash) and chewing tobacco.(Photo by Peter)
Gawid Leaves and Betel Nuts (Photo by Peter)
These catapulted us immediately to our far-away childhood when my Daddy would let us have a tiny piece of betel nut to chew whilst listening to a horror radio program by Ben David called Gabi Ng Lagim (Night of Horror) just before bed time.
Thinking about it now, My father probably believed in betel nut’s mild tranquillising property that would send four active children well into the land of nod.
Anyway the “proper” way to eat betel nut as told us by the elders of our barrio was to wrap a piece of the nut in a green leaf called gawid, also enclosed with the tiny parcel was a small piece of tobacco. The whole ensemble was shaken liberally with apog (lime/carbon/ash). Never tasted this offering but seen people chewing it this way and their mouth would turn red. Whilst chewing, they would spit often making their vicinity stomach churning blood-red and eventually their teeth would turn more black than red. The apog is what makes the red colouring.
Inside of the betel nut
Peter bravely chewing on a betel nut..not a mouse! (Photo by Jean)
Peter the virgin betel nut chewer! (Photo by Jean)