ForumIAS announcing GS Foundation Program for UPSC CSE 2025-26 from 19 April. Click Here for more information.
Source: The post is based on the article “What Is Magic Rice? What Is Special About This Rice That It Got GI Tag” published in TOI on 28th August 2023
What is the News?
Chokuwa rice has received a GI (Geographical Indication) tag due to its exceptional quality and uniqueness.
What is Chokuwa Rice?
Chokuwa rice is also known as Magic rice.It is grown in Assam.
It has a significant role in Assam’s culinary history and was a staple food for the Ahom dynasty.
Cultivated in: This healthy rice is mainly cultivated along the Brahmaputra River in places like Tinsukia, Dhemaji, and Dibrugarh.
Characteristics: Chokuwa rice is basically a semi-glutinous winter rice, known as Sali rice.The sticky and glutinous variety is categorized as Bora and Chokuwa based on their amylose concentration.
– The low amylose Chokuwa rice variants are used to make soft rice, which is known as Komal Chaul or soft rice.
– This whole grain can be consumed after soaking the rice in cold or lukewarm water.
– This unique rice variety is consumed with curd, sugar, jaggery, bananas to name a few.
– This rice is also used in making several Assamese delights like Pithe and other local dishes.
