Madinah’s miswak sellers do good business

MADINAH: Millions of visitors coming to Madinah during Ramadan and Eid made sure they visited the miswak market. People from many different nationalities flocked to buy the product either for personal use or to give as gifts to their family and friends once they return home from one of the holiest sites on earth.
Miswak sticks, also known as the best tooth cleanser, can be found in every corner of the holy city. Some of the miswak are manufactured and are packaged in colorful paper boxes while others of wood in different sizes and types are placed in front of the sellers.
Miswak have medicinal properties to fight plaque, recession of gums, tooth decay, bleeding gums and other dental issues. Users start off by chewing the Miswak until it softens and forms bristles so they can use it as a toothbrush but without toothpaste.
Some sellers stand for more than 12 hours in front of their stalls hoping to attract as many customers as possible. Seller Abu Mohammed says that most of his clients are from the Gulf and Muslim countries explaining that the best type of miswak is the one dubbed “Abu Hanash” because it looks like the Hanash snake skin.
Saad, a miswak seller, said that miswak sales during Ramdan and the Eid skyrocket to around SR500,000 in the city’s central area alone.
Merchants told Arab News that prices differ from one place to another as “in Madinah, most sellers import miswak from Jeddah and Makkah. So, because of this we need to sell more so we can regain our capital and make a profit,” said Abu Mohammed.
He said that he usually imports SR20,000 worth of Miswak during Ramadan and Eid noting that the amount he buys to sell during the Haj season is a different quantity.
Most of Abu Mohammad’s clients usually buy miswak to give as gifts to their friends and family back home adding that people usually buy around SR500 to SR1,000.
Abu Mohammed told local media that his best seller is Abu Hanash, one of the best types of Miswak which is sold for a high price. He explained that a good miswak should be moderately thick with a burning flavor, in addition to its white color, beautiful smell, integrity and without any bends.
He warned customers to be careful of cheats, explaining that some miswak sellers try to make their old miswak products look fresh so they soak them in a mix of water and ginger and then cool them off to dupe the customer.