Bhagalpuri Zardalu of Bihar

Though Zardalu might not find mention among the top varieties of mangoes in India that include Dusseheri, Langra and Alphonso, this mid-season fragrant mango is now much sought-after outside the districts of Banka and Munger in Bihar and slowly getting the recognition it duly deserves.   Zardalu or Jardalu as it is also known as,... Continue Reading →

Kolhapur Jaggery of Maharashtra

Since the 18th century, Maharashtra has been well-known for its extensive jaggery production business, so much so that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj came up with the ingenious idea to establish the first market yard of jaggery to fulfil all its requirements and services. Kolhapur district located in the western part of Maharashtra has been widely accepted... Continue Reading →

Sikkim’s Dalle Khursani

Sikkim has built up a rather formidable reputation for its superior organic farming methods and perhaps, this is the reason why the quality of indigenous vegetables, spices and fruits are undisputedly the best. One of the most famous produce of Sikkim is Dalle Khursani. Dalle Khursani is a red hot cherry pepper grown widely in... Continue Reading →

Sikkim Large Cardamom

Large cardamom or bada elaichi is an exotic ancient spice and medicinal herb prized for its complex aroma grown across the Eastern Himalayan region that includes Sikkim, the Darjeeling Hills in West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh. The crop is believed to have first been cultivated by the indigenous Lepcha tribe who used to collect the large cardamom... Continue Reading →

Assam Karbi Anglong Ginger

The picturesque hilly district of Karbi Anglong is one of the leading ginger producing belts of Assam that is fast gaining importance in both the domestic and international markets for its superior quality organic ginger. More than 30 percent of Karbi Anglong district is a dense tropical forest cover on hills and plains. The district is... Continue Reading →

Kachai Lemon of Manipur

The exotic Kachai Champra or Kachai lemon commonly known as the ‘pride of Manipur’ is found only in the remote village of Kachai in the Ukhrul district in the North eastern state of Manipur. This village is the highest producer of lemon in Manipur and one may wonder, what makes this lemon so striking?  ... Continue Reading →

Waigaon Turmeric

India is the world's leading producer and exporter of turmeric with a staggering average of 46,500 tons of turmeric exported each year valued at approximately Rs 4,689 million!  Besides, the established varieties grown in different parts of the country, there are at least seventeen known variants that have an impressive curcumin content ranging from 2.8... Continue Reading →

Naga Mircha

A truly exotic organic crop from the hilly state of Nagaland renders a fiery experience of massive proportion! Nagaland’s interesting folklore mentions Chüdi (Angami language, “King of Hotness”) and Chaibe (Zeliangrong language, “Leader/Chieftain”) – the regional titles conferred on the famed Naga mircha holding it in great esteem.   The traditional Naga chilli is considered to be a variant of the... Continue Reading →

Mango Malihabadi Dusseheri of Uttar Pradesh

The famous Malihabad in the Lucknow district of Uttar Pradesh is synonymous with mangoes. Popularly known as the mango capital of India, it is home to over 700 varieties of mangoes which on an average fetch about 150 crore every season!   There is an eternal bond between mangoes and Awadh. The mangoes were not... Continue Reading →

Kalanamak Rice of Uttar Pradesh

Kalanamak (‘Kala’ means black derived from the husk and the suffix ‘namak’ means salt) is one of the finest quality aromatic rice grown in India. This scented variety has been cultivated since 600 BC i.e., since and probably before the Buddhist era. It is also known as ‘Buddha rice’ as it is believed that Mahatma... Continue Reading →

Gulbarga Tur Dal of Karnataka

Gulbarga or Kalaburagi as it is known now is often called the ‘red gram bowl’ of Karnataka. Coined as the ‘land of tur dal’, Gulbarga accounts for the highest red gram production in Karnataka and roughly about a tenth of India’s total production. The tur dal or pigeon pea grown here is of superior quality... Continue Reading →

Odisha Rasagola

Historical records of the origin of the mouth-watering Odisha Rasagola dates back to at least 800 years. There is a sacred tradition of rasagolas offered to Lord Jagannath as part of bhog for centuries. It is believed that the culinary delight formed a significant part of the age-old rituals of Niladri Bije of the Jagannath temple... Continue Reading →

Uttarakhand Tejpat

The aromatic Indian Bay Leaf is one of the oldest and most popular spices used in most cuisines of the world. The active ingredient Cinnamaldehyde is found in high quantity in the famed Uttarakhand Tejpat also known as Meetha Tejpat and used in the preparation of Chyavanprash, Ayurvedic medicines and in the spice industry.   Uttarakhand Tejpat... Continue Reading →

Shahi Litchi of Bihar

Litchi or lychee was initially introduced in Bengal and gradually spread to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. The humid conditions and alluvial soil which is rich in calcium in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga as well as nearby areas proved ideal for litchi cultivation in Bihar. In fact, litchi has been an important fruit crop of Muzaffarpur... Continue Reading →

Allahabad Surkha Guava

A famous poet Akbar Allahabadi from Prayagraj had once remarked in the late 1800s that the guava of Allahabad is a divine fruit whose rightful place is in the land of God. His words it would appear carries tremendous weight as over the years, Allahabad Surkha Guava is often called as a heavenly delight by... Continue Reading →

Byadagi Chilli (Byadgi Chilli) of Karnataka

The Byadagi Chilli that is mainly grown in the districts of Dharwad, Haveri and Gadag in the state of Karnataka is famous for its essentially sweet and not spicy nature and its importance in the oleoresin industry. Byadagi chillies are fully wrinkled, long in size and have the highest level of dark red in the... Continue Reading →

Magahi Paan

Paan ka patha or betel leaf has been inherent in the ancient culture of India where it features as an important symbolism in the lives of aristocrats as well as commoners. Its use in India dates back to 400 BC where ancient books of Ayurveda, Charaka, Sushruta and others mention the importance of chewing betel leaf... Continue Reading →

Gorakhpur Terracotta

The highly acclaimed terracotta of Gorakhpur made from the special soil found in Bhathat area of Uttar Pradesh stands testimony to thousands of years of traditional art. The richness of this art seen in the different designs and types of bells, vases, Ganeshas, Buddhas, tables, elephants with mahouts, deer, horses, bullock carts, horse carts, lamps... Continue Reading →

Kanpur Saddlery

Roughly three hundred years ago (1800s), British officers living in Kanpur started the British India Corporation (BIC) in the ‘Harness Factory’ presently known as the ‘Ordnance Equipment Factory’ at Kanpur to cater to the needs of the British Army and Police. They taught local tanneries to make saddles for their horses, army boots and shoes.... Continue Reading →

Kannauj – Perfume capital of India

Strategically located on the banks of River Ganga, the city of Kannauj was once an important trading hub for Indian perfumes, spices and silks that were sent mainly to the countries in the Middle East. The city has a glorious history with its strong connections to the Ramayana and Mahabharat as well as being the... Continue Reading →

Bikaner – A Street Food Paradise

Bikaner is a land of staggering wealth, beauty, music, culture and food so unique that it will surely send you to a heavenly world for a few hours at least! Bikaner, situated in the middle of the Thar desert is a princely state since about the 15th century. What is quite remarkable is the staunch... Continue Reading →

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