Tobacco has been used for recreational purposes for centuries. It is used in different forms, but the most common ones are smoking and chewing. For smoking tobacco, you will find cigarettes; it is also available for chewing in a processed form. Many people confuse Pan Masala and Gutka with each other, but there is a lot of difference between the two. We get many questions from our readers about the differences between the Pan Masala and Gutka, so we decided to collaborate all the information on a single page and share it with you. Let us check out the actual difference between the two.
What is Gutka?
Gutka is known as chewing tobacco. It is made of a dehydrated mixture of betel nut, paraffin wax, tobacco, catechu and slaked lime. Additional flavouring and perfumes are added to Gutka to give it some flavour. Because of the presence of tobacco, Gutka is considered to be very addictive. People who are addicted to Gutka claim that it has a relaxing and stimulating effect on the brain. It is available in big packs and individual packs. The consumption of Gutka has been very high in Asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and India. To consume Gutka, the edible material is placed between the gum and the cheek. It is then gently sucked or chewed. Gutka is not supposed to be swallowed and should be spat out once the flavour is finished.
What is Pan Masala?
Pan Masala shares most of the ingredients with Gutka, but there is one major difference. Pan Masala contains Betel Nuts, Lime, Cardamom, Saffron, Catechu, Natural perfumes and other spices like clove, rose essence, sandalwood, etc. You would have noticed that we didn’t list tobacco in the ingredient list. That is right; the major difference between Gutka and Pan Masala is that Pan Masala doesn’t contain tobacco. Since it is tobacco-free, the Pan Masala doesn’t also contain Nicotine. Some may ask if it also has the same effect as Gutka. If you look at it, Pan Masala is marketed as a mouth freshener. However, it does have some effects on the brain as well. The Pan Masala contains lime and betel nut, which may give you a slight calming effect. The method of consumption for Pan Masala is different when you compare it with Gutka. It varies from one person to another. Some people prefer to just suck the flavouring out of the Pan Masala, while others swallow it after the flavouring is finished. Pan Masala is also available in single and bulk packing.
Chewing Tobacco Ban in India
Regarding the legalities, Gutka is banned in India since it contains chewing tobacco. It is a blanket ban in most states, including the ban on Gutka’s consumption, production, sales and distribution. However, it is mostly available in every state. In addition, if the Gutka is unavailable, the people addicted to Gutka mix Pan Masala with Chewing Tobacco. This is equivalent to Gutka, and it is also widely consumed.
Conclusion
What makes Pan Masala different from Gutka is the absence of tobacco and Nicotine. Some people believe Pan Masala is only a mouth freshener and doesn’t harm you. This is a myth, and Pan Masala also harms the body. Many brands are selling Pan Masala and Gutka in India. Most brands also sell tobacco separately since they try to find a loophole in the government order that bans the sale and production of Gutka. If you want to know more about Pan Masala and Gutka’s harmful effects, you can visit different pages on the website.
Santosh Kumar is a Professional SEO and Blogger, With the help of this blog he is trying to share top 10 lists, facts, entertainment news from India and all around the world.