Betel Nut
In much of South East Asia and the Pacific, many people (mostly men?) like to chew "Betel Nut", which is more correctly described as Areca Nut from the slender Areca Palm tree, wrapped in Betel leaf (from a climbing vine of the Pepper family), together with lime powder or paste, and other possible ingredients such as candy, spices, and tobacco.
This is somewhat anecdotal, but I believe the character of the Mentat in the novel Dune has red or purple stained lips, and that this idea was inspired by a similar effect that happens to chewers of Betel Nut.
Well, the whole point of this post is just to set up for a link to this recent news story about Taiwan passing laws to regulate the dress of young female Betel Nut vendors
12:26:55 PM 
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