Did you know that Ganjam Kewda Flower (Screw pine), a plant native to the state of Odisha, primarily in the Ganjam district, has been identified as a Geographical Indications (with GI tag) in India?

Ganjam Kewda Flower, with botanical name for its plant as Pandanus fascicularis Lamk (Pandanaceae), is known as Ketakipushpa in Ayurveda, Screw pine in English. It is a densely branched shrub indigenous to seacoast of the Indian Peninsula, Andaman, and other humid parts of India. It is particularly known as Ganjam Kewda Flower as 90% of the commercial production of the Kewda flower from the plant is estimated to occur in the coastal state of Odisha in India. It is associated mostly with the Ganjam district. It is a well-known scent producing and flavoring agent. In view of its great economic importance to the Ganjam district it has been registered, under the Geographical Indications (GI tag) of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act by Government of India, as Ganjam Kewda Flower. The exclusive product from the Kewda flowers is the Kewda scent produced in Chhatrapur, Brahmapur, Gopalpur and Jagannathpur in district of Ganjam, Odisha.

Kewda is a bushy shrub or a small plant known for the pleasant fragrance of its flowers. It is dominantly grown along the coast of the Ganjam district in Odisha between the rivers Bahuda and Rushikulya in an area of 675 km sq. along the coast of the Bay of Bengal. The soil and climatic conditions along the Ganjam coast are particularly suitable for its growth. The Kewda tree can reach a height of 18 feet, with dense branches supported by aerial roots that can form a thick, almost impenetrable jungle. The plant is also found growing widely, often forming thickets along roadsides, borders of agricultural fields, banks of rivers and canals, and on the seashore. The long leaves possess prickly spines along the edges and mid-ribs making the plant tough to handle for those not familiar with the handling and harvesting techniques. 

Kewra plant is dioecious, with male and female flowers produced on different plants. In Sanskrit, the plant is called Ketaki; ಕೇದಗೆ Kedage in Kannada; Ketakai or Talai in Tamil, and Jambala in Hindi. The male plants are called 'Ketaki Viphala', and the female plants and called 'Swarana Ketaki'. Only the male flower of this screw-pine tree or Kewda plant, the main part of the plant, which is used to extract from "spikes" (or inflorescence). The spikes are 10 -20 inches long. Along the central stalk of each spike one can find many flowers, each encased in a fragrant cream-colored spathe (a spathe is a protective leaf enclosing a flower). A fully mature kewda tree is reported to produce about 30 to 40 flower spikes each year weighing 5 to 6 each ounces each. The extract called Kewda Rooh (100% pure Kewda extract) has a pleasant, fruity odour and finds use as raw material in the perfume industry, forming the backbone of the economy of Coastal Ganjam district, which boasts of producing over 10 million Kewda flowers and 1,57,155 kg of Kewda thus generating business worth Rs.40 crores annually in the district.The principal chemical constituent of the kewda extract which is responsible for the characteristic odour is 2-phenylethylmethylether (PEME – 60 to 80%). However, the female part of this plant, which has no floral bouquet, grows into a fruit.

The process used for distillation is through hydro-distillation. Traditional distilleries used for the extraction of Kewda essence., consist of a row of copper pots (degs) that are filled with flowers and water. The degs are connected to second, parallel row of water basins (bhabka) via bent bamboo sticks (chonga). As the degs are heated, the volatile aromatic compounds enter the bhabka and get condensed into a distillate. Depending on the concentration, 3 grades of distillates/ essences are produced – Kewda rooh, Kewda attar and Kewda water. Around 250 processing units, locally known as bhatis, are reportedly engaged in the Ganjam distirct alone in processing the flowers.

Kewda rooh or kewda absolute is the 100% pure kewda extract which is used as a stimulant and an antispasmodic. Kewda attar is kewda extract absorbed into a base such as sandalwood oil for use in perfumery, cosmetics, tobacco flavouring and pan masala; this is one of the popular attars in India. Kewda water is a heavily diluted and cheap by-product of hydro-distillation suitable for use as a flavouring agent in sweets, desserts and soft drinks.

A negative aspect of the extract is the oil of the thorny flower is used in preparing gutka (a stimulant that causes mouth cancer). Now there is ban in force on manufacture and sale of gutka throughout the country.  

As medicine, it is useful in treatment of eye ailments and respiratory disorders. It is a favourite flower offering to Lord Ganesha. During festivals, Swarna Gouri Vrata and Varaha Mahalakshmi Pooja, Kewda flower is offered to the goddesses. Its leaves are used to make mats, bags and basket while the roots are used to bind them together.

- Narasipur Char