Naswar
Naswār, nāsor or nasvāy, is a moist, powdered tobacco dip consumed mostly in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as in surrounding countries including Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Naswar is stuffed in the floor of the mouth under the lower lip, or inside the cheek, known as butt style stuffing, for extended periods of time, usually for 15 to 30 minutes. It is similar to dipping tobacco and snus. Swabi, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Charsadda, Mohmand and Herat are renowned for their production of some of the highest quality Naswar.
Using naswar can cause a various harmful effects such as dental disease, oral cancer, oesophagus cancer, and pancreas cancer, coronary heart disease, as well as negative reproductive effects including stillbirth, premature birth, and low birth weight. Naswar poses a lower health risk than traditional combusted products. However it is not a healthy alternative to cigarette smoking. The level of risk varies between different types of products and producing regions. There is no safe level of naswar use. Globally smokeless tobacco products contribute to 650,000 deaths each year.
Types
There are two forms of naswar; powder, and a paste cake style mixed with lime. It has a very pungent and powerful smell, resembling that of a fresh bale of coastal hay, and has a subtle flavor as it mixes with the saliva. The nicotine effect can occur within 5 minutes after intake, producing a slight burning sensation on the inner lip and tongue.Nas: tobacco, ash, cotton or sesame oil, water, and sometimes gum.
Naswar: tobacco, slaked lime, indigo, cardamom, oil, menthol, water.
Naswār is made from sun and heat-dried tobacco leaves. These are added to slaked lime, ash from tree bark, and flavoring and coloring agents are mixed together. Water is added and the mixture is rolled into balls.
Usage
South and Central Asia
The green powder form is used most frequently. It is made by pouring water into a cement-lined cavity, to which slaked lime and air-cured, sun-dried, powdered tobacco is added. Indigo is added to the mixture to impart colour, and juniper ash may be added as flavoring.Currently, in countries of the region naswar is sold in markets, usually on trays with cigarettes and sunflower seeds. In Kyrgyzstan, a related form known as
In 2011, naswar was included in the list of narcotic and psychoactive substances to be controlled in Kazakhstan.
In November 2006, an editorial in the newspaper Daily Times in Pakistan caused some controversy over its allegedly biased representations of Pashtun predilection for naswar.
Eastern Europe and Russia
In Russia, naswar is not a traditional product, but it has gained popularity especially among teenagers. It was sold in the markets of Moscow and in other cities of the Urals, Volga, and other regions of the country. Its trade was usually conducted on trays with spices. According to the association of tobacco distributors "Grandtabak", in the first half of 2004, Russia's import of naswar or "chewing tobacco" amounted to almost 67 tons, primarily from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. On 23 February 2013, the Russian State Duma signed a federal law which banned both wholesale and retail naswar from 1 June 2013.Belarusian physicians have reported patients' medical information regarding naswar use to law enforcement agencies. In Estonia, naswar is distributed to nightclubs.
The ASH reported in March 2024, that in the UK smokeless tobacco products including naswar are most often used by Middle Eastern and South Asian Britons.
In February 2025, Solihull Council reported seizing packets of naswar during a trading standards inspection, describing it as illegal in the UK.
Health effects
Even though it is less dangerous than smoking, naswar is addictive, represents a major health risk, has no safe level use and is not a safe substitute for smoking. Globally it contributes to 650,000 deaths each year with a significant proportion of them in Southeast Asia.Using naswar can cause a number of adverse health effects such as dental disease, oral cancer, oesophagus cancer and pancreatic cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and deformities in the female reproductive system. It also raises the risk of fatal coronary artery disease, fatal stroke and non-fatal ischaemic heart disease
Quitting naswar use is as challenging as smoking cessation. There is no scientific evidence that using naswar can help a person quit smoking.
Cancer
Naswar is a cause of oral cancer, oesophagus cancer and pancreas cancer. Increased risk of oral cancer caused by naswar is present in countries such as the United States but particularly prevalent in Southeast Asian countries where the use of smokeless tobacco is common.All tobacco products, including naswar, contain cancer-causing chemicals. These carcinogenic compounds occurring in naswar vary widely, and depend upon the kind of product and how it was manufactured. A 2024 analysis of 14 commonly sold naswar brands from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, reported an alkaline mean pH, identified 85 organic compounds, found high concentrations of metals, and detected aflatoxins. There are 28 known cancer-causing substances in smokeless tobacco products.