An evergreen plant native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, whose leaves are chewed as a stimulant for their mild energizing effects.
From Arabic 'qat,' the word traveled through Somali, Swahili, and other languages as the plant trade spread, maintaining its original Semitic root throughout history.
Kath leaves contain cathinone, a stimulant similar to amphetamine, and chewing them is a social ritual in Yemen and East Africa—it's legal there but banned in many Western countries due to its effects.
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