Odisha’s Red ant chutney gets GI tag
The Simlipal red ant chutney by the tribal people of the Mayurbhanj district gets the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag
New-Delhi/Mayurbhanj: The Simlipal red ant chutney by the tribal people of the Mayurbhanj district gets the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Red Ant Chutney got the GI tag on January 2, 2024.
The red any chutney otherwise known as Kai Chutney is not restricted to Odisha, it is also available in Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh. It is also considered to be nutritious.
The chutney is being made by the tribals of Mayurbhanj area. They collect the red weaver ants , scientifically known as Oecophylla smaragdina from the sal trees in the Simlipal reserve. They generally hunt them at dawn as the ants are very aggressive and they bite, which hurt a lot.
After they are caught, they are crushed, washed and dried before getting cooked.
The chutney also have some medicinal value as it cures cough, body aches and fever. It is also believed to be rich in magnesium, protein, vitamin b 12, zinc, calcium, iron and potassium.
The Krishi Bigyan Kendra, Yashipur had applied for the tag via OUAT.
Ms Kalinga