Areca is unfamiliar to most northerners, but for people living in the southern part of the country, areca may be an indispensable seasoning in life.
My first impression of areca came from Taiwan. That year, when the north of the winter, I arrived from the cold hometown of Taiwan Taoyuan, before the plane had long been unable to bear the warm clothes on the body of the hot and dry, and put on the light and light clothes in the summer. It is the first time I came to Taiwan, in addition to seasonal contrast to this place impressed, and occasionally seen in the streets of the red color of the waste, then know that something is areca.
　　
In Taiwan, areca is the spice of life an indispensable, whether or not every Taiwanese love to eat areca, areca has become one of Taiwan's culture and well ingrained.
Areca tree as the palm plants, because of the fear of cold bogey frost, five degrees is not growth, so in the Chinese territory can be planted where areca is not much, except in the southern coastal city, Yunnan, is the Taiwan area soil environment most suitable for the growth of areca.
　　
By understanding that, areca Taiwanese eat fresh fruit, in addition to areca (commonly known as Jing Zi, is said to contain carcinogenic substance and areca also have a taste of arecoline) is an indispensable supporting role, it is wrapped in a areca outside of the betel leaf and caught in the middle of the betel pepper. Female flowers are betel vine flowers, betel betel leaf is male betel vine leaf, betel leaf and areca to chew, with spicy, with a stomach function medicine, there is a strong bactericidal effect.
Areca in Taiwan most commonly eaten has two kinds: one is the areca open, intermediate with a piece of betel pepper and some lime and other condiments, the so-called red and grey “ areca ”; the other is the betel leaf, lime coating without areca then wrapped in betel pepper. This is “ lime or “ areca ” areca &rdquo package leaves;. Lime is marble after calcination the slaked lime, it should be after finishing, the kind of advanced building materials can entrance. “ &rdquo is the red ash; lime added sweeteners, condiments, spices and herbs or.
　　
That sounds great, heart felt came to Taiwan, the most authentic taste is what areca wanted to buy 32, taste, taste then, but the occasional street selling areca shop, one side of their uncle manual processing of areca, while foreign selling him, I have never eaten Penang Lang, he kindly gave me a let me try. I did not expect to put into the mouth to chew two, there is a throat blockage, the feeling of physical heat, shortness of breath symptoms. Uncle smiled at me, let me quickly spit out, and then let me sit at her stall, a small piece of rest before I return to the original.
　　
“ I just gave you a I love to eat the “ Gemini ” you did not expect such a big response. ” uncle laughed me into his mouth, while threw a Gemini &rdquo “.
I asked him what he called “ &rdquo, he patiently explained Gemini; “ Gemini ” areca is also a way to eat, just taste more heavy. Do two a small areca (Ching Tsai) with betel leaf pack together and then wrapped in betel leaf, eating, I like this early entry can sprinkle some plum powder seasoning, but for him, he would destroy areca's plum powder taste, he can not love.
Uncle areca shop is very common in the Taiwan area, and there is no what special, but he keeps a Tactic and a bird in the shop, in the night lights of the street, he that a warm light will stand in the corner of the table preening birds and lying in his feet in a daze dog the parcel, they like one family like that tacitly immersed in their small life enjoyable, mechanical action of the daily volume of areca and areca sold without a trace of burnout.
　　
Said the uncle, his ancestral home in Fujian, when he was young parents rely on areca to sell to make money for the family, then parents the way to sell areca to sell Taiwan Taoyuan, here at home, while the parents later diverted to open the snack, but the memory of his areca grew up in a heap, even if the parents are now have not, but it is like areca smell the taste of home, which is why he chose to do this for a reason.
　　
He also said that he would like to return to Fujian to see, want to go back to the days when I was a kid in a drunk, he also said that he love areca, perhaps love is not the taste of it, but that it belongs to the strong and intoxicating nostalgia.
Say goodbye, uncle used by areca juice stained fingers two areca because I play, I have this two areca, but never the unique flavor of Taiwan, I am afraid that I will fall into that nostalgia is unable to extricate oneself.
　　
“ go to TMD with the group tour ” every Wednesday, six regular updates, please look forward to more exciting content.
About the author:
Often, Sohu: tourism people from the media, a Senior Guide (to provide customized travel services, senior Asia) bean contract writer, author of travel books "tour Thailand and Malaysia decryption “ ” with the tour guide", "only know — — Hong Kong and Macao" and "canned", "my growth knowYou can not love me, and many other youth literature.