Miraa is a flowering plant native to the Igembe people of Meru County in Kenya. Miraa contains the alkaloid cathinone, a mild stimulant, which causes excitement. Effects of miraa peak after approximately 15 to 30 minutes of chewing. 100 to 300 g of fresh Miraa twigs are chewed to form a bolus that is held in the buccal sulcus against the cheek of the mouth while swallowing the juice it produces; c
hewing sessions typically last 3 to 4 hours. Among the Meru communities where the plant is native, Miraa chewing has a history as a social custom dating back thousand of years, akin to the use of coca leaves in parts of South America and betel nut in parts of Asia. According to WHO, Miraa usage and addiction is not a serious problem. Miraa production, sale, and consumption are legal in Kenya and are a controlled substance in Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The unassuming little red-and-green leaf, but the powers unlocked by chewing it have hooked millions of people around the world, made it one of Kenya’s leading exports and gotten it banned in the United States and much of Europe. Munching it for a few hours’ makes users alert and talkative, much like other stimulants would. potency of the leave starts to wane as soon as its picked off the tree, presenting a major challenge to suppliers: how to get it from the hills of eastern Kenya- the Miraa heartland-to Nairobi without delay. Khat's effects are similar to those of other stimulants, such as caffeine. People who use Miraa may become talkative, alert, elated, and experience euphoria. Others describe increased imagination and ideas. Khat is usually chewed, with people typically holding the chewed leaves in their cheek for several hours, chewing periodically. Chewing sessions typically last 3 to 4 hours.
