A rather strange-looking nut resembling wild betelnut, called ‘kavivi’, has recently hit the markets in Madang during this current betelnut shortage period.
These nuts come in bright red or yellow colours and are doing a good job of supplementing the shortfall in the betelnut supply in the province.
Many betelnut chewers have remarked that unlike the smaller and sticky kavivi, these red and yellow nuts have a slightly bigger chewable seed, exactly like real betelnut.
The seed inside the skin also tastes better and lasts longer in the mouth.
“We’ve not seen such nuts before. It’s only recently that these nuts have made their way into the markets, and it comes at the right time when betelnut is down,” deputy Madang town mayor Bonny Simon said.
Highlanders who have purchased the nuts in bulk and selling them loosely for 50 toea at the new Laiwaden corner market in Madang town have named the nuts ‘Raikos meat’. This is because the nuts originate from the Rai Coast district of the province.
Three main betelnut markets at Four-Mile, Balasiko and Sagalau have been flooded with these nuts and sold cheaply than the original betelnut.
Photo: The bright red skinned ‘kavivi’ which is becoming a favourite to many chewers. Picture by James G. Kila