Market Custom · Betel Nut
Buai (Betel Nut)
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An estimated 8 in 10 adults in PNG chew this daily, and selling it has become one of the country's biggest informal economies.
Buai, or betel nut, is sold in mounds at markets like Port Moresby's Koki Buai Market, paired with a mustard pepper stick (daka) and lime powder. Chewed together, they deliver a quick stimulant hit and stain the mouth deep red.
Why it's made this way: Betel nut chewing has grown from a ceremonial custom into a huge informal trade in Port Moresby, providing livelihoods for thousands of sellers even as a 2013 city ban on selling it sparked major backlash before being lifted.
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Part of World of Street Food — 3248 dishes from 118 countries.
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