And for the really hip seventh-graders, it's a mango smoke. They are called bidis , flavored cigarettes from India that are fast catching on with America's middle-school children, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health officials warn that parents should not be fooled by the youthful perception that a bidi is not a real cigarette and thus not harmful. Bidis contain higher levels of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide than regular cigarettes do, according to the national centers. They come packaged in bright colors, and to top off the allure, bidis are hand-rolled, tapered and have no filter.
Kids think they convey a very cool and trendy image.
A large bidi manufacturer in India, Sundarlal Moolchand Jain Tobacconist, denies the adverse health findings. Company officials could not be reached by telephone. The site also says bidis have herbal properties and a unique lingering taste. Like most trends in American pop culture, the craze began in coastal cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston. The trend has now reached Kansas City.