An Indian company has released a "paan-flavoured" condom aimed at the country's prostitutes who apparently like nothing more than chewing on the pungent mix of betel nut and spices wrapped in tobacco leaves, Reuters reports.

Hindustan Latex Ltd developed the tasty prophylactic in association with public health organisation Family Health International in the hope of preventing STDs in India's ladies of the night.

Extensive taste testing revealed that sex workers would rather suck paan than chocolate, banana, or strawberry. Family Health International's Sanjeev Gaikwad confirmed: "The community loved it as most of the sex workers chew paan."

Hindustan Latex will doubtless be hoping its new product proves more palatable than the "Crezendo" condom, which recently caused a bit of a rumpus since it's fitted with a vibrating ring and therefore might be classified as a sex toy - illegal on the sub-continent. ®

Bootnote

It's official: Indian prostitutes will in future be referred to on El Reg as "paan-handlers".

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