Cuttack: Lime paste prepared from seashells which was very much popular among betel (paan) lovers will soon become a matter of history due to poor output and higher price.
Availability of limestone paste at cheaper prices has virtually sounded death knell for seashell-based lime industry in the Silver City. Sources said production of lime from seashells was flourishing a few years ago. At least 40 traders were engaged in production of the calcium-reach white paste which is applied on betel leaves before filling them with spices.
According to sources, the city’s traders used to source good quality seashells from Paradip and Puri for preparation of lime paste. “Lime paste is prepared from the ashes of dry seashells, which are burnt in a kiln,” said Farid Khan, a trader.
Khan claimed that lime paste prepared by city traders was very much popular among the paan chewers in the state and neighbouring West Bengal. “Retailers from across the state and businessmen from West Bengal procured lime paste from us a few years ago. The city had then at least 40 units for preparation of the white paste,” Khan said.
Low production of seashell-based lime and the resultant high prices have forced many paan chewers to switch to limestone paste prepared by big industrial units. “The prices of seashell-based lime paste have gone up manifold with the rise in input costs. Machine-made limestone paste has got wide acceptance due to its low price. Now the city has only two units to produce lime paste from seashells,” Khan said.
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