Khat is a green-leaf shrub which is a natural stimulate from the Catha Edulis plant found in a large flowering shrub. They can be found in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen and South Africa. It is also popular in the Arabian Peninsula. Khat can be pronounced and spelt in many different ways depending on what country you are in, here are a few examples: Chat, Cot, Quate, kat, Tohai,Catha, Tschat and is also is referred to as a African tea.

Khat can grow to an astonishing 20ft tall if left alone. Fresh Khat leaves are crimson-brown and glossy but become yellow and green as they age. Khat has been used as a recreational drug in Africa since the late 13th Century. Doctors would prescribe it to treat depression and to the farmers who would work long hours to boost their energy levels. Khat is most popular in Somalia and Ethiopia where alcohol is traditionally banned and frowned upon; it has enabled Khat to become widely used in the majority of households but is condemned on religious and cultural grounds.

Fresh Khat leaves are chewed or made as tea. The stems are also used but the most sought after part of the plant is the top, as the leaves get most of the sunlight and are at their freshest. Chewing Khat produces a euphoria, (similar to cocaine but a lot less potent) feelings of bliss and clear thought patterns. It is also used to heighten energy levels where one can work for long periods of time without rest. Fresh Khat has a very strong smell when it is freshly picked and when chewed on a regular basis it will cause intense thirst. For people who use it on a regular basis it can lead to paranoia, insomnia, irritability and depression and prevents sleep. Users claim the Khat eases systems of diabetes, asthma and stomach and intestinal tract disorders but there is limited scientific evidence to back this up. 'Cathinome', the psychoactive ingredient present in recently picked Khat leaves, is present up to 48 hours after harvest.

The legality of Khat varies around the world but within the U.K. it is legal to sell or use. In the U.S.A. the drug was recently classified a Schedule 1 narcotic carrying penalties similar to heroin and cocaine. Prior to the reclassification, the drug was classified as a Schedule IV substance with lesser penalties similar to those for marijuana. There has been calls form within the local communities in the U.K. to ban the use of Khat and as we stand these are being discussed at local levels and will be pushed into the parliamentary debates. Growing Khat is now a multi million pound business and local farmers in Africa are leaving the traditional forms of farming to produce Khat as the demand is high so they can earn a lot more selling Khat than many other crops. When Khat is transported from Africa into Europe or the U.S.A. it is packaged into plastic bags or banana leaves to retain its moistness. If the leaves are not transported in this way they will dry up and within days loose their market value.

Khat is plentiful in Europe and the U.K. and with more and more people settling down within these countries the use of Khat will go on. It is usually sold in grocery shops for £3.00 to £5.00 pounds a bundle.