Decades of chewing tobacco together with betel nut has left telltale stains around Madalena Soares’ mouth. The Dili resident, 67, has now broken her tobacco habit but still sells it to others from her stall in Taibesi Market in the East Timorese capital. (Photo by Silvino Freitas)
Big in Asia
Embedded in culture, the habit is hard to break for ASEAN’s poorest member
ZEVONIA VIEIR
March 7, 2026 06:06 JST



