Thon Mhaak | ต้นหมาก | Areca catechu
Family: Arecaceae - Genus: Areca
The areca palm can be found every where in the area of Paksong. The palm is used to mark borders between plantations as well as for harvesting the nuts.
The Areca Palm is a species of palm which grows in much of the tropical Pacific, Asia, and parts of east Africa. The palm is believed to have originated in the Philippines, but is widespread in cultivation. Common names in English are areca palm, areca nut palm, betel palm, betel nut palm, Indian nut, Pinang palm and catechu. The palm is called betel nut palm because its fruit, the areca nut, is often chewed along with the betel leaf.
Betel nut chewing has been a part of Thai tradition since the kingdom of Sukhothai (1238–1583). During the Lanna kingdom (1292), betel nut chewing was used as a form of flirting among the younger men and women. The red/brown stains on the teeth of those who chewed betel nut were considered beautiful.
The palm also plays a major role in Thai traditions and ceremonies such as:
Life prolonging ceremony: There is a belief amongst Thai people that the palm can prolong life. This ceremony entails taking a small betel tree and casting spells on it before planting it at a temple or in a public area.
ขันตั้ง/ขันครู (Kan Tung/ Kan Kru): Kan tung is a decorated tray that holds the betel nut and other offerings during a ceremony where students show respect and gratitude toward teachers from both past and present.
Buddhist rituals: the palm is used as an offering for spirit houses and during the ordination of Buddhist monks. Only leaves from male betel palm are used in Buddhist offerings.
"Kan maak" (Wedding ceremony): According to Thai tradition, a couple becomes engaged during a ceremony called "Kan maak" which is held during a wedding. Kan maak is a decorated tray on which betel nut features predominantly.
Other uses of the betel nut tree in Thailand include:
The use the branch for children to play with. A popular game is called ชักลาก (chuk lark), meaning pull and drag. This is a game where one person pulls on one end while another sits down on the wide end of the branch. The branch of a betel nut tree is strong; therefore people would use it for a hand fan.
Another use of the betel nut tree branches is to wrap food—such as rice. The tree branch is also used as an insulator to keep the moisture and warmth within the food.
Additionally, the soft layer of the branch is used to roll tobacco.
Finally, betel nut is also used as natural medicine in Thailand. It is used to cure coughing, a sore throat or a rash.
The number of harvestings of the areca nut varies from 3 to 6 times per year in the dry season. he fruits are harvested when fully ripe, and can be dried for later use. Paksong has dry season from November to May.
THE TREE
The Areca Palm is a medium-sized palm tree, growing straight to 20 meter tall, with a trunk 10–15 centimeter in diameter.
In Paksong area you will find the palm tree as a border marker in between plantation. The palm is grown for its commercially important seed crop, the areca nut.
THE LEAVES
The leaves of the Areca palm are 1.5–2 meter long, pinnate, with numerous, crowded leaflets.
The leaves are used for roof thatching. In some parts of Thailand vessels used for carrying water are made from the leaves , which, being of leather-like consistency, are easily converted into strong and durable water buckets. The leaf sheath is also made into cups, plates, and bags for holding plantains, sweetmeats, and fish.
THE FLOWERS
Trees can flower throughout the year. Areca palm has small bright yellow flowers that grow from beneath the leaves.
The sweet-scented male flowers are visited by bees and other insects for nectar, but insects have not been observed visiting the female flowers. It is thought that most of the flowers are wind pollinated.
THE FRUIT
The flowers of the areca palm turn into a light green to yellow fruit changing to yellow-orange as they ripen. The ovoid fruit is 4 - 5cm long and produced in large clusters of 200 - 300 fruits. Inside the fruit the areca nut is the product for which the palm is grown commercially.
The areca nut can be used as a natural dye, but is mainly popular for chewing throughout some Asian countries. The nut can be addictive.
CULINARY USES
Young leaves, flowers and the sweet inner part of the shoots are cooked and eaten as vegetables. The skin of the fruit is edible.
NUTRITION
The nut contains 8-12% fat that has characteristics comparable with hydrogenated coconut oil.
TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE OF NEEDLE FLOWER
NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.
The seed is used against anaemia, fits, leucoderma, leprosy, obesity and worms. It is also used in the treatment of dysentery and malaria. In combination with other ingredients, it is also a purgative and an ointment for nasal ulcers. Kernels of green and mature fruits are chewed as an astringent and stimulant, often with the leaves or fruit of betel pepper (Piper betle) and slaked lime. The rind is also used as a laxative in cases of constipation with flatulence and bloating, as well as a diuretic in treating oedema.
INTO THE WILD: a down to earth experience
For guests and visitors to Paksong we organize weekly tours "The Edible Forest" and Foraging weekends: Into the Wild. We work with local guides to take you in the jungle of Paksong. After foraging, we will cook a meal with the ingredients, using bamboo together with you!
Come and join and learn about the abundance of food that nature gives us!
INTO THE WILD!
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