View source for Naswar

{{short description|Dipping tobacco}}
[[File:NASWAR.JPG|thumb|A pile of naswar]]
'''Naswār''' ({{lang-ps|نسوار}}, [[Cyrillic script]]: насва́р), also called '''nās''' (ناس; на́с) or '''nasvay''' (نسوای; насвай), is a moist, powdered tobacco [[dipping tobacco|dip]] consumed mostly in [[Afghanistan]] and surrounding countries. Naswar is stuffed in the floor of the mouth under the lower lip, or inside the cheek, for extended periods of time, usually for 15 to 30 minutes. It is similar to dipping tobacco and [[snus]].

[[File:Насвай.jpg|thumb|Packets of Naswar]]

==History==
Naswar was introduced into [[Western Europe]] by a [[Spain|Spanish]] monk named Ramon Pane after [[Christopher Columbus|Columbus']] second [[voyages of Christopher Columbus|voyage]] to the [[Americas]] during 1493-1496.<ref>Bourne, G. E.: Columbus, Ramon Pane, and the Beginnings of American Anthropology (1906), Kessinger Publishing, 2003, page 5</ref> In 1561, [[Jean Nicot]] the [[France|French]] ambassador in [[Lisbon]], [[Portugal]], sent naswar to [[Catherine de' Medici]] to treat her son's persistent migraine.<ref>McKenna, T.: Food of the Gods - The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge - A Radical History of Plants, Drugs, and Human Evolution, Bantam Books, 1993, page 199</ref>

==Use in 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 (calcium hydroxide) and air-cured, sun-dried, powdered tobacco is added. Indigo is added to the mixture to impart color,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-Zqo67BjH7UC&pg=PA19|title=Control of Tobacco-related Cancers and Other Diseases: Proceedings of an International Symposium, January 15-19, 1990, TIFR, Bombay|last=Gupta|first=Prakash C.|last2=Hamner|first2=James E.|last3=Murti|first3=P. R.|date=1992|publisher=Prakash C. Gupta|isbn=9780195629613|language=en}}</ref> and [[juniper]] ash may be added as flavoring.{{cn|date=November 2020}} 

Currently, the countries of the region freely sell naswar in the markets, usually on trays with cigarettes and [[sunflower seeds]]. The only exception is [[Turkmenistan]], where in 2008 President [[Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow]] signed a decree banning the production, sale, use, and import of naswar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.centrasia.ru/newsA.php?st=1212054180|title=В Туркмении запретили производить, продавать и жевать насвай - ЦентрАзия|access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref>

In 2011 naswar was included in the list of [[narcotic]] and [[psychoactive drug|psychoactive]] substances to be controlled in [[Kazakhstan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kazakh-zerno.kz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38128&itemid=80|title=ИА КазахЗерно|access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref>

==Use in Russia and Eastern Europe==
On the territory of [[Russia]], naswar is not a traditional product, but it gained popularity especially among teenagers. It was sold in the markets of [[Moscow]]<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.flb.ru/info/33195.html|title=Унесённые пленом : Попавшие в плен военнослужащие считаются пропавшими без вести - FLB.ru - Агентство Федеральных Расследований|access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref> and in other cities of the [[Ural Mountains|Urals]], [[Volga Federal District|Volga]], and other regions of the country. Its trade was usually conducted on trays with spices.<ref name=":0" /> 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 (total value of 16,500 US dollars), primarily from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grandtabak.ru/rus/businesshotnews/2004/aug.html|title=Насвай - Словарь терминов - glossary - Гранд Табак|author=Гранд Табак|access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref> On 23 February 2013, the Russian [[State Duma]] signed a federal law (''N 15-ФЗ'') which banned both wholesale and retail naswar from 1 June 2013 onward in Russia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://asozd2.duma.gov.ru/main.nsf/%28Spravka%29?OpenAgent&RN=163560-6&02|title=Автоматизированная система обеспечения законодательной деятельности|access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref>

On the use of naswar Belarusian physicians reported and send patient's medical information to law enforcement agencies.<ref>[http://medvestnik.iatp.by/docs/mv_27/vs_raz.html Medvestnik] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722030457/http://medvestnik.iatp.by/docs/mv_27/vs_raz.html |date=2013-07-22 }} / Газета «Медицинский вестник»</ref> In [[Estonia]], naswar is being distributed to [[nightclub|discothèques]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moles.ee/99/Sep/10/4-2.html|title=Газета "Молодежь Эстонии" 10.09.99 Кухня наркоманов становится богаче Инесса КОЛЛОМ.|access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref>

== Characteristics ==
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,{{Citation needed|date=October 2017}} 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.

==Manufacture==
Sun and heat-dried tobacco leaves, slaked lime, ash from tree bark, and flavoring and coloring agents are mixed together. Water is added and the mixture is rolled into balls.

Nas: tobacco, [[wood ash|ash]], cotton or sesame oil,<ref>US Department of Health and Human Services. Health consequences of using smokeless tobacco: a report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General. Bethesda, Maryland: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, 1986.</ref> water, and sometimes gum.

Naswar: tobacco, slaked lime, indigo, cardamom, oil, menthol, water.

==Controversy==
In November 2006 an editorial in the newspaper ''[[Daily Times (Pakistan)|Daily Times]]'' in Pakistan caused some controversy over its allegedly biased representations of [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]] predilection for naswar.<ref>{{cite news |title=EDITORIAL: Hasba Bill beats the WP Bill hands down! |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C11%5C15%5Cstory_15-11-2006_pg3_1 |access-date=16 October 2018 |work=Daily Times |date=15 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227170402/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C11%5C15%5Cstory_15-11-2006_pg3_1 |archive-date=27 February 2007}}</ref>

==Side effects==
The major side effect of using naswar is addiction, and it becomes difficult to get rid of it. It is also increasingly known that naswar often causes oral and throat cancer. It is also heavily recommended to restrict use of naswar due to major side effects. <ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.oraloncology.2013.04.004|pmid=23683469|title=P53 (Pro72Arg) polymorphism associated with the risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma in gutka, niswar and manpuri addicted patients of Pakistan|journal=Oral Oncology|volume=49|issue=8|pages=818–23|year=2013|last1=Saleem|first1=Saima|last2=Azhar|first2=Abid|last3=Hameed|first3=Abdul|last4=Khan|first4=Mansoor Ahmed|last5=Abbasi|first5=Zubair Ahmed|last6=Qureshi|first6=Navid Rashid|last7=Ajmal|first7=Muhammad}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Dipping tobacco]]
*[[Smokeless tobacco]]
*[[Snus]]
*[[Khat]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/crime/supermarket-in-ras-al-khaimah-shut-down-for-selling-niswar-1.583173 Supermarket in Ras al Khaimah Shut Down for Selling Naswar].  GulfNews.com

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[[Category:Tobacco products]]
[[Category:Tobacco in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Tobacco in Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Pashtun culture]]