Maida lakdi powder is the Hindi trade name for the powdered bark of the Litsea glutinosa tree. In the agarbatti industry the same powder is sold as joss powder, jigat powder, jiggat powder or jiggit powder. Whatever the name, it does one job: it is the natural binder that holds incense sticks, dhoop and mosquito coils together.
What Is Maida Lakdi?
Maida lakdi (also written maida lakri) is the bark of Litsea glutinosa, a tree of the laurel family. The bark is sticky and gummy when mixed with water. When it is dried and finely ground, it becomes maida lakdi powder, often called maida lakdi chaal powder (chaal means bark).
Maida Lakdi Powder, Joss Powder and Jigat Powder: Same Product
Buyers often search for these as different products, but they are the same material:
- Maida lakdi powder – Hindi name, used by herbal and local traders
- Joss powder – common trade name in India
- Jigat / jiggat / jiggit powder – name used by agarbatti manufacturers
- Litsea glutinosa bark powder – botanical name
Why Agarbatti Makers Use Maida Lakdi Powder
- Strong natural binding – the masala stays on the bamboo stick
- Its adhesive properties help the stick burn continuously
- Works in raw agarbatti, masala agarbatti, dhoop, cones and mosquito coils
Indian vs Vietnam Maida Lakdi Powder
India used to source this bark locally, but supply is now limited, so many agarbatti makers now use imported Vietnam joss powder. Vietnam powder is graded by “cups” (3 to 36 cups) based on bark content and viscosity, which makes it easy to choose the right strength for your formula. See our joss powder grades.
How to Check Quality
- Binding strength (viscosity) – higher cups means stronger binding
- Colour – red bark powder is lighter, leaf blends are darker
- Fineness (mesh) – finer powder mixes more evenly
- Moisture – dry powder stores longer without lumps
Indian Joss Powder Supply Today and Switching to Vietnam Powder
Indian joss powder and Vietnam joss powder come from the same tree, Litsea glutinosa. The tree grows naturally across a large part of Asia, including India and Vietnam. The plant is the same. What has changed is where the bark comes from and how easy it is to buy.
Local supply has become hard to get. In a January 2023 interview with Sugandh India, Hardik Brahmbhatt of Jyoti Products, a raw material supplier to the incense industry, said the tree had been over-exploited and that its extraction is now banned (Sugandh India, January 2023). A later Sugandh India interview with him reported that the powder used to come from states such as Odisha and Meghalaya, that it now has to be imported, and that joss is heavily imported from countries such as China and Vietnam (Sugandh India, November 2023).
| Point | Indian joss powder (local maida lakdi) | Vietnam joss powder |
|---|---|---|
| Source of bark | Litsea glutinosa bark collected in India. Trade press names Odisha and Meghalaya as earlier sources. | Litsea glutinosa from Vietnam. We make ours in our own factory in Gia Lai, Vietnam, and we run our own farm in Vietnam. See About us. |
| Supply today | Short. Trade press reports a ban on extraction after over-exploitation. | Imported into India. We supply buyers across India. |
| How you order | Ask the seller how each lot was graded and tested. | By cups grade, so you can ask for the same grade on every repeat order. |
| Before you buy | Test each new lot in your own mix. | Specs can differ between suppliers for the same cups grade, so test a sample first. |
To switch from Indian maida lakdi to Vietnam powder, find the cups grade that gives the binding you are used to. Run a small test batch, compare stick strength and colour with your old mix, and then fix that grade for repeat orders.
Maida Lakdi Chaal Powder: What to Ask Your Supplier
Chaal powder is bark powder, but the word alone does not tell you the grade. Red inner bark binds more strongly than green bark, and many grades are a blend of bark and leaf. Both of these change how well the powder binds. So when you buy maida lakdi chaal powder, ask for the cups grade and a sample, not just “chaal”. Our joss powder grades guide shows what goes into each grade.
Maida Lakdi Powder vs Wheat Maida and Herbal Packs
The word “maida” appears in more than one product name, so be clear about what you are ordering.
- Maida lakdi powder (joss powder) is ground Litsea glutinosa bark, sometimes blended with leaf. Factories buy it in bulk by cups grade and use it as a binder.
- Wheat maida is refined wheat flour. It is made from the starchy inner part of the wheat grain after the bran and germ are removed. It is a food flour used for breads, pastries and biscuits, and a different material from maida lakdi.
- Small Ayurvedic packs labelled maida lakdi powder are sold online as a herb, in packs measured in grams. The bark has a long history in folk medicine. The retail listing we checked does not name the botanical source or state a cups grade or binding strength, so you cannot tell how it will behave in a production batch.
On your purchase order, write “maida lakdi powder” or “joss powder” with the cups grade you need, not just “maida”.
How to Order Maida Lakdi Powder for Your Factory
- Pick a grade. Compare the grades we supply and their uses on our joss powder product page.
- Match it to what you make. For stick making, read our agarbatti raw material guide. For coils, see joss powder for mosquito coils.
- Understand the price. Our joss powder price guide explains what decides the price.
- Send your requirement. Share it through our contact page and we will send the current price and specs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Indian maida lakdi powder still easy to buy?
Not easily. In 2023 interviews with Sugandh India, a raw material supplier to the incense industry said the tree had been over-exploited, that its extraction is now banned, and that the powder now has to be imported. The same trade magazine reported that joss is heavily imported from countries such as China and Vietnam.
Are Indian maida lakdi and Vietnam joss powder the same plant?
Yes. Both are made from Litsea glutinosa, a tree that grows naturally in India, Vietnam and other parts of Asia. What differs is where the bark comes from, how easy it is to buy today and how the grade is specified.
What does chaal mean in maida lakdi chaal powder?
Chaal means bark. The word alone does not tell you the grade, because the type of bark and any added leaf change how strongly the powder binds. Ask for the cups grade; our joss powder grades guide shows what goes into each grade.
Can I use wheat maida in place of maida lakdi powder?
No. Wheat maida is refined wheat flour, while maida lakdi powder is ground tree bark. Do not swap one for the other in a formula built for joss powder, and always write “maida lakdi powder” or “joss powder” on your order.
Are small Ayurvedic packs of maida lakdi suitable for agarbatti production?
They are sold as a herb in gram-sized packs, and the listing we checked does not name the botanical source or state a cups grade or binding strength. For production, buy graded joss powder and test a sample in your own mix first.
How do I get a price for maida lakdi powder in bulk?
Share your required grade, monthly quantity and delivery city through our contact page, call +91 9199267480 or email info@josspowderindia.com. We will send the current price and specs.
Get a Quote for Bulk Joss Powder
Tell us your required grade, monthly quantity and delivery city. Call +91 9199267480, email info@josspowderindia.com or use our contact form.