Kendu Leaf

About Kendu Leaf:

• Kendu leaf (Tendu Leaf, Diospyros Melanoxylon ) is also called “Green Gold of Odisha”.
• It is a nationalized product like Bamboo and Sal seed. Kendu leaf is one of the most important non-wood forest products of Odisha.
• Characteristics:
  • It has matching aroma with Tobacco.
  • It has hygroscopic in nature which helps drying leaves to withstand crack.
• Primary use: Used to roll tobacco into bidis (local cigarettes); also holds medicinal value.
• Key Producer States: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat.
• Odisha is the third-largest producer after MP and Chhattisgarh.
  • The uniqueness of Odisha Kendu leaves is its processed form. No state produces processed kendu leaves except Odisha.
• Legal Status: Kendu Leaf is covered under Minor Forest Produce (MFP) as per Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.