The arecanut (Areca catechu L) is an important commercial crop cultivated through tropical India, East Africa, Far East Asia, and South Pacific. India is the major producer and consumer of arecanut in the world. Areca nut production in India is the largest in the world, as per FAO statistics for 2016, accounting for 49.74 % of its world output, and is exported to many countries. It is estimated that nearly ten million people depend on areca nut industry for their livelihood in India. The fruits of arecanut are used in traditional herbal medicine. The nut has a characteristic astringent and slightly bitter taste. The nut may be used fresh or it may be dried and cured before use, by sun-drying, baking or roasting. Since time immemorial, arecanut is being used for chewing or mastication throughout the world, especially in Indian subcontinent and other parts of Southeast Asia as it is believed to have lots of medicinal properties. In India, the use of areca nut has been noticed as early as 1300 BC as cited by Sisu Mayana in ‘Anjana Chaitra’ and the practice of its chewing from 650 BC as mentioned by Magha in ‘Shishupala Vadha’. In other countries such as Vietnam, the antiquity of areca nut even goes back to Bronze Age.
In India, areca nut and betel leaf are considered as sacred and no ceremonial function is complete without them.