Nut chewed in many Asian countries (5)

I believe the answer is:

betel

(Other definitions for betel that I've seen before include "Something stimulating" , "Palm with nuts for chewing" , "Palm with leaf and nuts chewed" , "Plant leaf chewed in the East" , "Dried leaf of a plant chewed in Asia as a mild stimulant" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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