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{{short description|Indian snack food}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{for|Indian [[fritter]]s|Bhajji}}
{{Infobox prepared food
| name = Bikaneri bhujia
| image = Shop selling Bikaneri bhujia in Jaipur.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = Shop selling Bikaneri bhujia
| alternate_name = Bhujia
| city = [[Bikaner]]
| country = India
| region = [[Bikaner]] ([[Rajasthan]])
| course = [[Snack]], starter
| served =
| main_ingredient = [[Moth bean]], [[besan]], [[groundnut oil]]
| variations = [[Sev (food)|Sev]]
| calories =
| other =
}} '''Bikaneri bhujia''', often simply called ''bhujia'', is a popular crispy [[snack]] prepared by using [[moth bean]]s and [[besan]] (gram flour) and spices, originating from [[Bikaner]], a city in the western state of [[Rajasthan]] in India. Light yellow in colour, it has become not just a characteristic product of Bikaner, but also a generic name.<ref>{{cite news |title= Camel country: Known for its sand dunes and bhujia, Bikaner|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090118/spectrum/main5.htm |newspaper=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |date=18 January 2009 }}</ref> Each variety prepared by large scale manufacturers also go through a rigorous testing procedure. This ensures that every new variety though mixed with different ingredients does not lose its basic nature.

Bikaneri bhujia has been a [[cottage industry]] in Bikaner, Rajasthan, and provides employment to around 2.5 million people in villages of the region, especially women, and recently it has faced competition with multinational companies like Pepsico as well as Indian snack companies, which have used the name bhujia.<ref>{{cite web |title=The whole world's bhujia |url=http://www.indiatogether.org/2005/jul/eco-bikaner.htm |date=26 July 2005 |publisher=indiatogether.org |access-date=5 March 2011 |archive-date=9 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509080831/http://indiatogether.org/2005/jul/eco-bikaner.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=India: TNCs muscling into cottage industry sectors|url=http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/tnc-ch.htm|date=11 Jan 1996|publisher=TWN (Third World Network)|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927030000/http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/tnc-ch.htm|archivedate=2011-09-27}}</ref> After struggling with numerous copycats over the years, in September 2010, the [[Indian Patent Office]] confirmed the [[Geographical Indications]] rights and a patent was issued for the brand name ''Bikaneri bhujia'' to local manufacturers of Bikaner.<ref name=ex>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-copyright-for-bikaneri-bhujia-hyderbadi-h/681218/|title=A copyright for Bikaneri bhujia, Hyderbadi haleem|date=14 September 2010|work=Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ipindia.nic.in/girindia/treasures_protected/registration_GI_27October2010.pdf|title=Registered Geographical Indications (GI)|publisher=[[Geographical Indication Registry (India)]]|access-date=5 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204163252/http://ipindia.nic.in/girindia/treasures_protected/registration_GI_27October2010.pdf|archive-date=4 February 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Patent shield soon from copycat GI Joes|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/patent-shield-soon-from-copycat-gi-joes/articleshow/1670508.cms |newspaper=[[The Economic Times|Economic Times]] |date=24 Feb 2007 }}</ref>

==History==
In 1877, during the reign of Maharaja Shri Dungar Singh, the first batch of bhujia was produced in the princely state of Bikaner.<ref>http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Food/in-search-of-bikaneri-bhujia/article3945487.ece</ref>

==Preparation==
A dough of [[Vigna aconitifolia|moth]] [[dal]] [[Gram flour|besan]] and spices including [[Garbanzo bean|chana]] [[dal]], powdered cellulose (fiber), salt, red chilli, black pepper, cardamom, cloves, groundnut oil, etc. is formed into the snack by pressing it through a sieve and deep frying in vegetable oil. In large parts of India, particularly [[Rajasthan]], [[Gujarat]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Bihar]] and [[West Bengal]] it is a standard accompaniment to any meal.

==Geographical Indication protection==
In October 2008, Bikaneri bhujia was granted [[Geographical indication|Geographical Indication]] protection.<ref name="test">[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-copyright-for-bikaneri-bhujia-hyderbadi-h/681218/ A copyright for Bikaneri bhujia], The list has grown from 120 to 132, adding Bikaneri bhujia from Rajasthan.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Details {{!}} Geographical Indications {{!}} Intellectual Property India|url=http://ipindiaservices.gov.in/GIRPublic/Application/Details/142|access-date=2021-05-24|website=ipindiaservices.gov.in}}</ref> Getting the GI tag will ensure that none other than those registered as authorized users (or at most those residing inside the geographic territory) are allowed to use the popular product name, an assurance of distinctiveness in a land of thousand cultures.

==See also==
* [[Rajasthani cuisine]]
* [[Mysore pak]]
* [[Dharwad pedha]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tarladalal.com/Bikaneri-Bhujia-3860r Bikaneri Bhujia Recipe] at ''Tarla Dalal''
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS0wBhCSgak Bikaneri Bhujia in making]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180318124707/http://bhikharamchandmal.net/ Bikaneri Bhujia in making]

{{Indian dishes}}

[[Category:Bikaner]]
[[Category:Indian snack foods]]
[[Category:Rajasthani cuisine]]
[[Category:Deep fried foods]]
[[Category:Geographical indications in Rajasthan]]

Bikaneri bhujia - Revision history

>InternetArchiveBot at 05:26, 30 May 2021