Khat, a flowering evergreen shrub native to the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, is cultivated for its psychoactive leaves, which are traditionally chewed or brewed into a tea. The leaves contain cathinone, an alkaloid that produces stimulant effects similar to amphetamine.
Khat has a long history of use in the regions where it is grown, with evidence of its consumption dating back to ancient times. Today, khat remains an important part of social and cultural life in many parts of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, where it is often used as a recreational drug or as a way to enhance alertness and focus.
