CHOKUWA
RICE - GEOGRAPHY
News:
What Is Magic Rice? What
Is Special About This Rice That It Got GI Tag
What's
in the news?
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Magic rice also known as Chokuwa rice is a
part of Assam culinary heritage, this unique rice has been a staple of the
troops of the mighty Ahom dynasty.
Chokuwa
Rice:
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It is also known as Magic rice cultivated in Assam.
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It is a part of Assam's culinary heritage
and this unique rice has been a staple of the troops of the mighty Ahom
dynasty.
Area:
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This unique and healthy rice is cultivated
around the Brahmaputra River area (In
several parts of Assam like Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, etc.)
Features:
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It is basically semi-glutinous winter rice, known as Sali rice.
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The sticky and glutinous variety is
categorised as Bora and Chokuwa
based on their amylose concentration.
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The low amylase Chokuwa rice variants are
used to make soft rice, which is known as Komal Chaul or soft rice.
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The whole grain can be consumed after
soaking the rice in cold or lukewarm water. This rice variety is widely
consumed for its convenience of preparation and nutritional value.
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The unique rice variety is consumed with
curd, sugar, jaggery, and bananas to name a few.
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The rice is also used in making several Assamese delights like Pithe and other
local dishes.
Go
back to basics:
Geographical
Indication (GI) Tag:
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It is a sign used on products that have a
specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due
to that origin.
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It is typically accorded for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and
spirit drinks, handicrafts and industrial products.
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The
Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
seeks to provide for the registration and better protection of geographical
indications relating to goods in India.
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This GI tag is valid for 10 years, following which it can be renewed.