Table 1.

Common smokeless tobacco products

Gutkha – It is a preparation of crushed areca nut, tobacco, catechu, paraffin wax, slaked lime and sweet or savoury flavourings. Gutkha is consumed by placing a pinch of it between the gum and cheek and gently sucking and chewing.

Zarda – To manufacture zarda, tobacco leaves are shredded and boiled with lime and saffron. The mixture is then dried and mixed with finely chopped areca nuts. It is served in paan, which is chewed and spat out.

Paan – It is a preparation combining betel leaf with areca nut and sometimes also with tobacco. It is chewed and after chewing, it is either spat out or swallowed.

Khaini – A commercially manufactured product that contains shredded tobacco mixed with slaked lime, menthol and flavourings and sometimes with areca nut. The product is kept in the mouth for 10 to 15 min and sucked from time to time.

Snus – It is produced through a heat treatment process and contains tobacco, water, sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, moisturisers & flavourings. For consumption, it is placed between the gum and upper lip.