Tobacco & Nicotine
Bidis & Kreteks (Clove Cigarettes)
Street names: Bidis, Beedis, Kreteks, Clove cigs
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Nicotine plus clove's numbing eugenol — smoke feels smooth, deeper inhaled
- Crackling sensation from cloves
⚠Key risks
- Bidis: unregulated hand-rolling = higher tar and nicotine than cigarettes; made by child labor in India
- Kreteks: eugenol numbs the throat → deeper inhalation → more damage; banned as flavored cigarettes in US (still sold as 'cigars')
- Same cancer/COPD/cardiac risk profile as cigarettes
- Cheap price point = youth entry product
✚Overdose signs
- Nicotine poisoning
- CO-related headache/dizziness
📋Quick facts
Also known asBidis, Beedis, Kreteks, Clove cigs
CategoryTobacco & Nicotine
Schedule / classKreteks banned US (flavored cig ban, 2009); bidis restricted; legal some countries
AppearanceBidis: hand-rolled tobacco in tendu leaf, tied with string. Kreteks: clove-spiced cigarettes
Street price$2–$5 per pack bidis; kreteks $3–$6
Legal statusKreteks banned as cigarettes US (sold as filtered cigars); bidis face import restrictions
Last updated2026-09-17
Sources: CDC, WHO, FDA
Category comparison — Tobacco & Nicotine
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bidis & Kreteks (Clove Cigarettes) | Kreteks banned US | Bidis: unregulated hand-rolling = higher tar and nicotine than cigarettes; made by child labor in India; Kreteks: eugenol numbs the throat → deeper inhalation → more damage; banned as flavored cigarettes in US (still sold as 'cigars') | $2–$5 per pack bidis |
| Cigarettes | Legal 18/21+ worldwide; advertising heavily restricted | THE leading preventable cause of death — 8 million deaths/year globally, ~480,000/year US; Half of long-term smokers die from it: lung cancer, COPD, heart disease, stroke | $5–$15 per pack |
| Cigars & Cigarillos | Legal 18/21+; taxed lower than cigarettes in US | Cigar smoking causes the same cancers as cigarettes — lung, oral, esophageal, laryngeal — even if you don't inhale; Single cigars can deliver a pack's nicotine | $1–$5 per cigarillo |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Bidis & Kreteks (Clove Cigarettes) look like?
Bidis: hand-rolled tobacco in tendu leaf, tied with string. Kreteks: clove-spiced cigarettes
What are the signs of a Bidis & Kreteks (Clove Cigarettes) overdose?
Nicotine poisoning; CO-related headache/dizziness Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
Bidis: unregulated hand-rolling = higher tar and nicotine than cigarettes; made by child labor in India Dependence can develop with regular use.