Saturday, August 18, 2012

Nutty Gods

The gods in Thailand are sometimes offered betel nuts, a type of seed consumed in Southeast Asia for its narcotic-like effects. Pure sliced betel nuts are usually chewed, but sometimes the seeds are ground, mixed with spices, and then wrapped in fresh betel leaves to make it more palatable. Unfortunately, betel nuts turn your teeth black, a look that is not very attractive for the gods.