khat
Noun
Meaning
the leaves of the shrub Catha edulis which are chewed like tobacco or used to make tea; has the effect of a euphoric stimulant
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in Yemen kat is used daily by 85% of adults
A cocktail of Arak and minced frozen khat, mixed with grapefruit juice, has become popular in the south of the country in recent years.
As federal and local khat raids have often targeted immigrants from countries where khat is legal, issues of cultural misunderstanding have sometimes been raised.
Channel 4 News reported in September 2014 that prior to the ban, 20 tonnes of khat arrived at Heathrow Airport daily, and it would sell for £3 per bundle.
Chewing khat is also part of the Yemeni business culture to promote decision-making, but foreigners are not expected to participate.
In 1856, English writer Charles Dickens also described the custom of khat chewing in the Horn region and the adjacent Gulf territories, likening it to drinking strong green tea : And one may sleep well if, during the day, too much kat has not been chewed.