A few years back (the fugee days)when I saw Wyclef chewing the same thing, I asked the same question. It's actually.....wood. I tell you, I started to chew on that shit and it became addictive. It's not just wood, you take the bark off of it and boil it with different flavored leaves or syrup (peppermint, strawberry, etc.)Deep ish ya'll!!

Peace