Pan Masala refers to a balanced mixture of betel leaf with lime, areca nut, clove, cardamom, mint, tobacco and many other ingredients. It is prepared with precise measurements so as to maintain a balance of all ingredients while keeping in mind its taste and human health. Pan Masala acts as a mouth freshener and unlike other Western synthetic pan masala which are made with chemical and petroleum ingredients, the Indian pan masala is considered safer. It is available in hygienic and attractive foil packets (sachets) and tins which are easy to store and carry.
The Indian pan masala market reached a value of INR 36,523 Crores in 2016 and is further expected to reach nearly INR 81,992 Crores by 2022. The strong growth of the market can be attributed to a number of factors. As pan masala has been traditionally popular in India, it is consumed by all age groups and social classes in the region. Large population along with rising disposable incomes also provide a huge consumer base for pan masala products. Moreover, convenient packaging, easy availability, competitive marketing by manufacturers as well as the shift from tobacco to tobacco-free products have further fuelled the demand for pan masala globally. Although it has gained prominence in urban households of India, especially among adolescents, its demand is growing faster in rural households.
Khainiis a form of chewing tobacco used in India, containing slaked lime.
Gutka or guṭkha is a preparation of crushed areca nut, tobacco, catechu, paraffin wax, slaked lime and sweet or savory flavorings. It is manufactured in India and exported to a few other countries.Gutka is a preparation of betel nuts and tobacco designed to be chewed. It originated in the Indian Subcontinent, where its consumption is widespread today, and spread from there to areas with a large Indian population. Like other tobacco products, gutka is potentially addictive and cancerous, and in India, some moves have been made to attempt to restrict its availability to address health concerns.
Betel nut is a combination of three ingredients. People roll small piecesof the nut from Areca catechu; more commonly called betel palm, in aleaf from the Piper betel vine, then add powdered slaked lime orlimestone paste, and chew it. The substance is popular in certain partsof the world, primarily Asia and Africa, Some components of betel nuthave pharmacological properties, but little evidence supports its usefor any therapeutic purpose.
India is the major producer and consumer of arecanut in the world.Production is concentrated in six states, namely Karnataka, Kerala,Assam, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Arecanut is the majorplantation crop of coastal and southern districts of the country under assured irrigation facility.The ever increasing demand for areca products like paan, supari andgutkha has led to continuous increase in arecanut prices worldwide.The processing methods, maturity and consumer preferences influence the types of arecanut products prepared. Area and production shares show that Karnataka leads with 46 per cent of area and 47 per cent ofproduction, followed by Kerala with 24 and 23 per cent, respectively.
