Buzz
The allure of modern-day Tây Thi women doesn't quite match the spell cast by betel nuts, leaving Taiwanese men entranced.
Unveiling the mesmerizing charm of Tây Thi ladies and betel nuts for Taiwanese men.
In many other cities, individuals like Ling Ling might attract judgmental glances as if they were involved in the sex trade. However, in Taiwan, Ling Ling and other provocatively dressed girls are simply selling betel nuts, a common indulgence in Taiwan, India, Myanmar, and various other Asian countries. They are affectionately referred to by men as “bin lang xishi” – the modern Tây Thi, loosely translated as betel nut beauties.
“The prettier you are, the more money you make. That's why I dress like this,” says Ling.
Each betel nut-selling girl earns around 40,000 New Taiwan Dollars per month (over 1,300 USD), surpassing the salary of an office worker in Taiwan, which is around 26,000 New Taiwan Dollars (over 850 USD), according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The trend of betel nut Tây Thi emerged in the 1960s and peaked in the 1990s. Nowadays, betel nut stalls line the streets of Taipei, mainly catering to drivers, laborers, and attracting tourists. These girls exclusively sell betel nuts, cigarettes, and beverages, rejecting any involvement in the sex trade.
However, behind the alluring image of these seductive betel nut Tây Thi in Taiwan lies stories that prompt reconsideration of the attention-grabbing persona.
Rare Intoxication
Chen Wen, a taxi driver, simultaneously speaks and spits into a plastic cup a red liquid oozing from his mouth while chewing betel nut: “Thanks to it, I can work for hours on end, truly fantastic!”
According to the Tây Thi ladies, chewing betel nut can induce a feeling of “enchanting euphoria,” with some even mentioning its instant alcohol-dissolving effects. Betel nuts come in various flavors when combined with items like cigarettes, lime, or spices... The most common being sweet and spicy.
Johan Nylander, a CNN correspondent, had the opportunity to be offered betel nut by a local man during his visit to Taiwan.
Just seconds after Johan puts the betel nut in his mouth and starts chewing, a shock runs through his body. The heat intensifies, sweat beads on his face, and his heart races. The peculiar sensation is Johan feeling his arm tingling, hair standing on end, distinctly experiencing the hot and spicy flavor exploding in his mouth.
Simultaneously, Johan's mouth quickly fills with saliva, forcing him to spit it out – the liquid has an orange-red hue staining the sidewalk. The betel nut vendors and a few onlookers chuckle at the sight.
Deadly Addictive Substance
According to the World Health Organization, 10% of the global population chews betel nut, a stimulant ranked fourth after cigarettes, alcohol, and caffeinated beverages.
Betel nuts, mixed with lime and wrapped in betel leaves, have long been compared to chewing gum in the eyes of the Taiwanese. A piece of betel nut can elicit euphoria comparable to several shots of espresso. Some even argue that the intoxication is on par with amphetamine.
But unlike coffee, betel nuts can lead to oral cancer. According to officials in Taiwan, about 9 out of 10 oral cancer patients on the island have a betel nut-chewing habit.
According to data from the Taiwan Ministry of Health, around 2 million people in Taiwan have the habit of chewing betel nut, with the largest age group being between 30 and 49.
Many betel nut sellers and buyers claim that betel leaves are not harmful, and the betel part is actually beneficial for health. However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) points out that the betel nut itself contains carcinogenic substances.
Hahn Liang-Jiunn, President of the Betel Nut Control and Oral Cancer Prevention Association in Taiwan, states that there are various reasons why locals enjoy chewing betel nut, despite the health risks.
Many outdoor workers such as construction laborers, long-haul drivers, or fishermen find themselves more robust when chewing betel nut. This 'chewing gum' helps them stay warm and reduces thirst.
Mr. Hahn emphasizes that the betel nut chewing tradition also has a social aspect: “It's easier to connect with betel nut chewers than with smokers. That's why young people start chewing betel nut at an early age.”
A Habit to Quit
Taiwan authorities are urging people to quit the betel nut chewing habit.
Since 2014, the Taipei city government has been organizing betel nut addiction cessation classes to help individuals quit this habit, with absentees facing fines of 5,000 – 300,000 New Taiwan Dollars (approximately 165 – 9,900 USD).
According to Taiwan's Waste Disposal Act, betel nut spitters can be fined 1,200 – 6,000 New Taiwan Dollars (around 40 to nearly 200 USD) and are required to attend addiction cessation classes.
Mr. Hahn mentions that Taiwan is also making efforts to transition betel nut farmers to cultivate other crops such as tea, oranges, guavas, or mangoes.
In 2002, the Taiwanese government observed that the provocative attire of betel nut-selling girls, lacking modesty, might distract drivers, leading to traffic accidents.
In 2007, authorities in Taoyuan district issued regulations regarding the attire of betel nut-selling girls. They must dress more modestly, not exposing their chest, abdomen, and buttocks – a measure aimed at potentially reducing their revenue.
The Future of Betel Nut Beauties
Blackened teeth from betel nut chewing are no longer a beauty symbol in Taiwanese society, especially for urban youth.
“I used to chew betel nut when working in the factory 10 years ago because everyone around me did. But when I moved to Taipei, almost none of my friends chewed betel nut, so I stopped too. Betel nut is harmful to health and ruins your teeth,” says a young man known as Hippo.
From 2007 to 2013, the percentage of Taiwanese men who grew up chewing betel nut decreased by 45% to 950,000 out of a total population of 24 million, according to the Taiwan Ministry of Health.
In a roadside shop in Taipei, Xiao Hui, a longtime betel nut seller, prepares goods for customers while keeping an eye on her small child. Her fingers stained brown from years of preparing betel nut, her teeth showing signs of discoloration from chewing.
Xiao envisions a different future for her three daughters: “I don't want them to chew betel nut; it's not good for their health. And I don't want them to become betel nut beauties; that's not a good job,” she says.
South African photographer Tobie Openshaw states, “Taiwanese people exhibit class discrimination towards betel nut beauties – often from impoverished rural areas with limited education.”
Tobie has been pursuing a documentary project for 9 years on betel nut beauties in Taiwan. Locals generally empathize with this profession, but they remain tight-lipped about what truly happens, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
He shares, “Betel nut beauties dressed provocatively often face prejudice. Apart from cultural norms or health issues, these betel nut stalls become an urban art form. Most of the girls I spoke to expressed a desire for more understanding and respect from local men.” Many cases involve harassment against these girls while selling betel nuts.
Source: Pham Huyen/Vnexpress
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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide
MytourAugust 18, 2017
