Areca (betel) nut is the backbone of farming in this region and the slender palms, up to 20 metres tall, are everywhere around Honavar. On this guided walk through a working plantation at Areca County, you'll learn how the crop goes from seed-nut to sapling to harvest (the palms take 5–6 years to mature) and how almost every part of the tree is used, from nuts to leaf-sheath plates.
Along the way you'll spot pepper vines climbing the trunks, banana flowers, chillies and other plants of a traditional mixed garden and hear how areca weaves into local culture and ceremony.
Tips
- Pair it with breakfast or lunch at the 1929 Diner.
