Khat, a social plant?

Khat, a social plant

#Khat or qat is a shrub or tree that can reach up to fifteen meters in height. The leaves are dark green and shiny, the flowers are small, tar and yellow. It grows in Ethiopia and Arabia, but especially in Yemen, where it is grown a lot. In fact, Ethiopia is the motherland; the plant grows in cool valleys at a fairly high altitude. He was brought to Arabia in the sixth century and is well acclimatized. As a user plant, he has found little entry outside the circle of Islam, much less than coffee, which also comes from Ethiopia. Interesting for a plant lover is also that the plant is good to grow in Europe and is even fairly hardy.

My copy, even in pot, survived the hardest winters, although in the winter of 2009 it was completely dead above ground, but it turned out to my surprise to form a leaf back in the spring.

The leaves and stems are eaten fresh, although in some parts of Arabia decoctions are also used. Freshness is very important and traders make a lot of effort to transport the plants from the hills to the cities as quickly as possible. In Ethiopia, the leaves are used as a seasoning in local mead wine

Among the active components of the leaves we find #cathine , scopolamine and especially #efedrine - Yes. This ephedrine has a stimulating and euphorizing effect somewhat similar to adrenaline. I remember very well how many years ago I saw Ethiopian soldiers in the television news coming to war, under the influence of Khat.