IN Bureau
Assam achieved the singular distinction of becoming the first Northeast State to have the beverage awarded the Geographical Indication tag on September 26 (Sunday). The drink is the traditional Judima wine of Dimasa tribals who belong to both Assam and Nagaland.
As per the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) official, the wine is prepared by the Dimasa tribals from sticky rice and some particular herbs.
The AAU went through Judima’s historical background, utility and scientific aspects in tandem with Assam's Dima Hasao district Youth Association for Development and Empowerment (YADEM). Then the AAU scientists team consisting of Kishore Kumar Sharma, Gargi Sharma and S. Maibongsa and Gauhati University Professor Uttam Baithari worked together on the documentation and processing of obtaining the GI tag for the wine.
Sharing details of the GI tag, AAU’s Director, Research-Agriculture, Ashok Bhattacharyya said the information regarding the Judima being granted the official brand mark was shared by GI Registry last week.
This wine is an essential part and parcel of the Dimasa tribals’ life and culture. These tribals live in Dimapur in Nagaland besides Cachar, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao districts of Assam.
The time required to make this wine is a week though it can be stored for years and it has a particular sweet flavour.
In the past several fruits, horticultural and agricultural products of the Northeast region have received the GI tags for their speciality but for the first time a wine from the area is receiving the mark.
Manipur’s Tamenglong orange and Hathei chilli, grown in the hill districts of Tamenglong and Ukhrul, respectively, and Mizoram’s ginger were accorded the GI tag last week.
