From red ant chutney to black rice, the 7 Odisha products that have bagged GI tags

Last Updated10/01/2024

Recently, seven products from Odisha have bagged the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

Geographical Indications of goods refer to the place of origin of a product, conveying an assurance of quality and distinctiveness.
In India, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, awards GIs.

A GI registration is given to an area, allowing traders to sell it with the GI logo.
Any unauthorized use can lead to legal prosecution under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
GI tags also help protect the interests of the local growers and artisans by preventing duplicity of the products and sale from unauthorised traders.
Consumers can identify certified goods through GI tags.

Woven by the women of Dongria Kondh tribe, reflecting tribal heritage of the Dongria Kondhs.
- Dongria Kondh tribe is a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) in the Niyamgiri hills in Odisha’s Rayagada and Kalahandi districts.
The shawl is worn by both men and women and the Dongrias give it to their family members as a token of love and affection.
Embroidered with red, yellow, and green threads with each colour holding significance.
- Green: Mountains and hills
- Yellow: Peace and happiness
- Red: Symbol of blood
The motifs in the shawls are mostly lines and triangles, believed to be a reflection of the importance of mountains for the community.

It is one of the oldest tribal art forms, also known as Idital.
It belongs to the Lanjia Saura community, a PVTG largely residing in the Rayagada district. These paintings are in the form of exterior murals painted on the mud walls of homes.
- To show gratitude to their deities and forefathers, and also for the well-being of their community.
They feature subjects like tribal humans, trees, animals, birds, the Sun and the Moon.

The black-coloured rice variety, also known as the ‘Prince of Rice’, is famous for its aroma, taste, texture and nutritional value.
As the rice grains resemble cumin seeds, it is also called Kala Jeera.
Its consumption helps in increasing haemoglobin levels and improves metabolism in the body.

The chutney made with red weaver ants is a traditional delicacy of the tribals in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.
The ants are found in the forests of Mayurbhanj, including in the Similipal forests
The chutney is believed to be a good source of nutrients like protein, calcium, zinc, vitamin B-12, iron, magnesium, potassium, etc.
Its consumption is believed to help boost immunity and prevent diseases.

It is known for its prickly thorns on the stems and the whole plant.
The green and round fruits contain more seeds as compared to other genotypes.
It is famous for its unique taste and relatively short quick cooking time.
The plants are resistant to major insects and can be grown with minimal pesticide.
It is being widely cultivated in Nayagarh district of the state.

It is a natural sweetener extracted from date palm trees and has its origin in the Gajapati district.
Traditionally, the jaggery is prepared in a trapezoidal form called ‘Patali Gur’ and is organic by nature.
It is dark brown and has a unique taste.

It is a type of sweet made from cheese from buffalo milk, with distinct characteristics in terms of appearance, taste, flavour, shape, and size.
It also has unique nutritional values that distinguish it from other cheese-based sweets.