Manipur’s Hathei Chilli and Tamenglong Orange get GI Tag

Manipur’s most famous Hathei chilli and Tamenglong orange have finally been awarded the GI Tag. Geographical Tag also called GI Tag is given to products that have a specific place of origin and have a reputation because of their geographical origin.

Confirming the news, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh took to Facebook and wrote, “What a great start to the day for Manipur! I’m really happy to share that two products of Manipur viz Hathei Chilly and Tamenglong orange have been granted GI tag by the Government of India. This is a historic milestone in the history of Manipur and it will increase the income of farmers in Manipur. We will be receiving the certificates in the next few days.” (image credits- istock)

Hathei chilly, commonly known as the Sirarakhong chilly, is almost 9-inches in size and bright red in colour. This specific variety of chilli thrives well only in the climatic condition of the Sirarakhong village of the Ukhrul district, which is situated about 66 km from Imphal. The village also has a folk song dedicated to the chilli, in which they compare the worth of the chilli to a prized shawl of the Tangkhul Naga tribe known as ‘Khuilang’.The Hathei chilly is loaded with antioxidants and contains high calcium and Vitamin C levels. (image credits- istock)

Another Indian food that bagged its GI Tag is the Tamenglong Orange. This orange variant belongs to the Tamenglong district of Manipur, which is also known as ‘The Orange Bowl of Manipur’. The orange has a bright orange colour and weighs about 232.76 grams on average. Tamenglong orange is quite juicy with a 45 percent juice content and provides a good dose of vitamin C. (image credits- istock)

India already exclusively owns a number of food items that have been given the GI Tag. Allahabad Surkha Guava which is pink on the inside got its GI Tag in 2007. Whereas, Kashmiri Saffron rightfully bagged its GI Tag for its premium quality and aroma. Mysore’s Betel Leaf, also called Paan ka Patta received its GI Tag in 2006. All tea lovers might have tasted the famous Darjeeling Tea which received its GI Tag in 2004. Talking about tea, let’s move to the next most popular beverage, which is coffee. The famous Malabar Coffee got its GI Tag in the year 2008. Every namkeen lover’s favourite- Bikaneri Bhujia got its GI Tag in 2010. The most recent food item to get its GI Tag is the Manipuri rice in 2020, which is famous for its black colour and nutty taste. (image credits- istock)

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