Who wants to look like an obese chipmunk with a mouth full of green, slobbery cancer? No wonder there's a movement afoot in Yemen to end this rather off-putting practice.
Qat (pronounced "cut"), also known a Khat or Gat, is a plant that's been chewed for centuries in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Penninsula.
(Reuters / MOHAMED AL-SAYAGHI)
Qat is a stimulant with amphetimine-like properties that can induce hyperactivity and euphoria.
(Reuters / Ahmed Jadallah)
Although Qat can lead to dependency and abuse, it is not considered as addictive as alcohol or nicotine.
(Reuters / MOHAMED AL-SAYAGHI)
Qat is best chewed fresh from the farm. Dried Qat isn't nearly as powerful. Vendors will sell Qat with peanuts or bubble gum to make chewing the raw leaves and stems more palatable.
(Reuters / Mohamed al-Sayaghi )