Over 31 million people eat Hajmola each day. Hajmola is one of the most profitable and influential items under Dabur’s portfolio. A candy with a lot of punch to it, Hajmola also has a long and rich history. For many years the candy has followed a traditional Indian ayurvedic recipe which helps in digestion. This Chatpata (sweet and peppery) flavor has been around many decades.
A Brief History of Hajmola
One of the oldest and bestselling products of Dabur – Hajmola was originally a home-grown ayurvedic, digestive tablet. It was sold from the 1950s onwards, and has the tagline “Chatpata swad, jhatpat aram” (tastes great, provides instant relief). Originally, it was launched as an Ayurvedic digestive tablet called “Kshuddha Bardak Churna” before being rebranded to the current name Hajmola. This product targeted one of the most basic and universal needs when people had very limited access and could not afford western medicine. The mass production of Hajmola candy was the answer to many digestion related problems. It could be bought without a prescription and was extremely accessible to local people.
As mentioned above, Hajmola is owned by Dabur which is a consumer goods company that was founded in 1884 by Dr S.K Burman. Dabur currently has over 7,500 employees and Hajmola is one of the key pillars in its healthcare division.
What is Hajmola?
Hajmola is a digestive candy which has touted medicinal properties. It is made of many different Indian herbs, edible salts, and spices. It is in different shapes and sizes, but the original comes in a circular shape of nearly the size of a penny.
Hajmola Ingredients
Some of Hajmola’s ingredients include – black pepper, lemon extracts, sugar, tamarind, salt, long pepper (pippali), and cumin. This blend not only aids in digestion, but also works as laxative for children.
Hajmola Pictures
Here is a photo of some of the most famous Hajmola candies in different packaging. Original Hajmola was formulated in two flavors – “Regular” and “Pudina”. The purple colored imli (tamarind) flavored Hajmola bottle is the most iconic .
Rise in Popularity of Hajmola
Since the beginning of its production, Hajmola was the only branded digestive candy amidst other local digestive tablets and solutions. Hajmola is also famous for creating edgy and witty television ads. Dabur had an ad campaign which launched in 1989, as one of the earliest ads for national tv which really propelled the Hajmola brand. Starting with the “Hajmola Sir” slogan it eventually transitioned to the “yeh baat kuch hazam nahi hui”, which loosely translates “This doesn’t sit well with me”. It’s used as a double entendre and the punchline at the end of many television ads.
Hajmola also utilized famous actors and cricketers for TV ads such as Ajay Devgn, Amitabh Bachan, Kapil Dev, Mallika Sherawat and Shahid Afridi.
Different Flavors of Hajmola
The Hajmola candies now, are available in many different flavors. These flavors include – Imli, Cola, Anardana, Pudina, Regular, and Limecola. The tablets are available in both small sachets and jars.
What Does Hajmola Taste Like?
The flavors are distinguishable enough and also leave a distinct aftertaste. While many Hajmola flavors are bold, some however taste rather flat. Especially the imli and cola flavored tablets are extremely popular and is a celebration of zesty spices and herbs. Meanwhile the pudina flavored Hajmola is comparatively on the flatter side, catering to those who are not a fan of vivid flavors in general. The Limecola tablet is a blend of two flavors – cola and lemon and is real tangy. Anardana flavor on the other hand gives a sweet taste. The Regular Hajmola is the original flavor and is very salty to taste.
These candies have no artificial preservatives or sweeteners.
How many Hajmolas should be consumed per Day
This is not medical advice, but most people consider to not eat more than 2 Hajmolas per day. It is indeed made of natural ingredients which has little to no side effects, but – due to the amount of salt it contains, it is good to avoid eating a larger quantity.
Is it safe to have Hajmola everyday
Yes, it is mostly safe. Having one or two Hajmolas everyday would most likely not cause any harmful side effects. Due to the high salt in the tablets, this may not be safe in high quantities especially for people with high blood pressure.
Is Hajmola FDA approved
The FDA has not evaluated statements regarding dietary supplements. These tablets do not intend to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any health condition or diseases.
How to store Hajmola at home
Storing Hajmola at home is easy. It is advisable to store it in a cool and dry location. Avoid keeping the Hajmola jar or sachet directly under sun light.
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