... In the Mercado
CATHA EDULIS
CATHA EDULIS
FAMILY :: CELASTRACEAE
QAT, JÂT, CHAT, KHAT, ARABIAN TEA: Of all the plants listed for sale in this catalog, this is probably the most controversial (in legal terms). Although it is listed in a previous edition of The Sunset Garden Book as an ornamental, there are people in power in this world who think that the effects of chewing Khat are — how do I say this diplomatically — undesirable.
2009 FRESH CATHA EDULIS SEED CROP: SOLD OUT
Our seeds are freshly harvested from our own plants here in Mexico. They are shipped postage paid via 1st class mail worldwide.
Khat (Catha edulis) Seeds (200 seeds), $80 (US) – SOLD OUT
ORDERING AND PAYMENT
Payment is by US Money Order or by e-bank transfer (with internet money transfer companies like XOOM.COM). Sorry, we cannot accept directly PayPal or Credit Cards (but they are accepted by the money transfer companies). The cost for using Xoom.com is $4.99 per transaction. We have tried to absorb this cost by keeping our prices low. We mention Xoom.com only because we have used it and it works well. There are other companies that do the same thing.
Please EMAIL to order. In the email please state precisely what you are ordering (seeds only – No plants at this time) and method of preferred payment. We will then send payment instructions. Upon receipt of payment, the seeds will be shipped in 1-2 days (not counting weekends). Total Delivery time is 2-3 weeks to the US or Canada. International delivery is not guaranteed because of the many variables involved, but we have 20 years of experience in the mail order nursery business and we do our best to insure safe delivery.
.
Photo of Khat Bundles
According to a grant sponsored by the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control, the main subjective effects of Khat use are “euphoria, improved intellectual efficiency and alertness.” The active principles are norpseudoephedrine and cathinone. It is non addictive, but excessive use can produce some symptoms of amphetamine psychosis. A synthetic diet drug related to cathinone is phenylpropanolamine.
The “War on Khat” has already been entered by the US, most noticeably by the invasion of Somalia a few years ago, partially in an effort to gain control of the Khat trade. How the citizens of any country tolerate the illegalization of any plant I find mind-boggling. I can understand a society needing to have individual actions (murder, violence, theft, abuse, etc.) be illegal, but I can’t understand the prohibition of the cultivation and personal use of any plant, be it Khat, tobacco, opium, coca, pot, etc. Well, I mean I do understand the economic benefits of such prohibitions: A select few people become extremely wealthy off of illegal sales. But I don’t understand the acquiescence of the populace. It appears that drug laws are enacted to create criminals, not to remedy social problems.
To further digress: I once lived in what is termed “the emerald triangle,” three counties in Northern California that grow a large quantity of marijuana. In the summer it’s a war zone. The military and police are constantly overhead in helicopters, the Highway Patrol routinely stop anyone in profile, and police wander the hills trespassing and searching without warrant wherever they want. Civil rights are non-existent, all because some people are growing a plant which produces fewer deleterious effects than beer. Everyone knows of this abuse of power, but, I’m afraid, we also acquiesce. Oh,well.
Back to Khat. While the Muslim religion (predominant in the geographical area where Khat is used) bans alcohol and other drugs “harmful” to the body, it doesn’t ban Khat. The illegalization efforts that have been made in the past in this area have all been by the occupying colonial powers (the English and Italians).
To the Muslims, Khat is known as “the flower of paradise.” It grows easily to a large shrub or small tree in sub-tropical locations. Mature specimens I have observed have survived temperatures down to about 25º f. It is widely adaptable to different conditions and soils but seems to grow best in rich, moist, well-drained sandy soil in full sun (coastal) or light shade (inland). In its natural habitat, Yemen and Ethiopia, it grows to tree size on hill sides at about 6000′ elevation where it has a relatively stable temperature of 80º f. It is very easy to grow in Puerto Vallarta and the rest of the tropical world.
Normally the leaves are not harvested until the plant is 4-5 years old, after the plant matures and flowers. It is customary to drink coffee or sodas while chewing the young, tender leaves and stems. Sometimes bubble gun is chewed simultaneously (especially by Yemeni college students). The taste of Khat is somewhat astringent, especially if older, lower quality leaves are used. The effects (lasting from 2-3 hours) range from a mild increase in energy to a full-blown speed-like high, depending, of course on the quality and amount consumed.
…Read more…
