Naswar

Naswar  ﻨﺴﻮﺍﺮ

Naswar is a type of smokeless tobacco (snuff) popular throughout Central Asia and the Indian sub-continent. In Afghanistan, most naswar is produced locally and while the exact ingredients vary, it usually contains tobacco, either lime or ash, various spices (such as cardamom), and water. The lime serves to enhance the effects of the tobacco by making it more easily absorbed into the bloodstream. This accounts for the greater “buzz” (nasha in Pashto) experienced by novice users of naswar, even if they regularly use American smokeless tobacco products.

Most Afghans place naswar under the tongue, rather than between the cheek and gum. It is typically carried in small, round polished metal containers.

While narcotics such as opium are occasionally added to naswar, most of the naswar available in shops and “dipped” by the majority of users is simply tobacco.