Pan Masala is a balanced mixture of betel leaf with lime, areca nut, clove, cardamom, mint, tobacco, essence and other ingredients. It is an agricultural product with herbal properties, also available in hygienic pack and pouches. The ingredients in pan masala vary widely, depending on personal taste and region. Fennel seeds are often key ingredients, since they tend to leave the mouth with a fresh feeling, and it is also possible to find cinnamon, cardamom, lime, menthol, areca nuts, betel nuts, and various other ingredients.
India tops the list of smokeless tobacco users in the world with nearly 83 per cent consumers. Indians are so addicted to flavoured tobacco — pan masala and gutkha to be precise — that despite the ban on its manufacture and sale in 11 states so far, consumers are still getting hold of their daily fix, courtesy contraband sales.
Popular pan masala brand Rajnigandha, produced by Dharampal Satyapal (DS) Group, has 65 per cent market share. Dharampal Satyapal, with sales of Rs 1,600 crore, is headquartered in Noida. This facilitates the development of new technologies and ensures a high quality product.
Few Indian major players are as under
· Alliance One Inds. India Pvt. Ltd.
· Ashok & Company Pan Bahar Ltd.
· Baba Global Ltd.
· Dharampal Premchand Ltd.
· Dharampal Satyapal Ltd.
· Dhariwal Industries Pvt. Ltd.
· Gogeneni Tobaccos Ltd.