Lucie45F0227 at 12:05, 23 May 2025

2025-05-23T12:05:45Z

New page

{{Short description|Type of jaggery (non-centrifugal cane sugar) - agri-product from Kerala, India}}
{{Infobox geographical indication
| name = Marayoor jaggery
| image = Marayoor Jaggery in bar form.jpg
| alt = Marayoor Jaggery in bar form
| caption = Marayoor Jaggery in bar form
| alternative names = Marayoor Sharkara
| description =A [[jaggery]] (agri-product) made from fresh sugarcane juice in [[Marayur|Marayoor]] and [[Kanthalloor]] Grama panchayaths of [[Idukki district]] of [[Kerala]]<ref>{{cite web |title=10 Different Types Of Jaggery To Try |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/web-stories/lifestyle/different-types-of-jaggery-to-try/photostory/106820168.cms |website=www.timesnownews.com |access-date=15 November 2024}}</ref>
| type =[[Jaggery]]
| area = Marayoor, Kerala
| country = India
| registered = 6 March 2019
| material =
| official website ={{URL|https://search.ipindia.gov.in/GirPublic/Application/Details/613|ipindia.gov.in}}}}

The '''Marayoor jaggery''' is a variety of [[jaggery]] ([[non-centrifugal cane sugar]]) made from fresh [[sugarcane juice]] in the [[State of India|Indian state]] of [[Kerala]].<ref>{{cite web |title=6 Types Of Jaggery You Must Know |url=https://www.news18.com/web-stories/lifestyle/6-types-of-jaggery-you-must-know-2-1638083/ |website=www.news18.com |access-date=15 November 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite news |title=The Sweet History GI Tagged Marayoor Jaggery From Kerala |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle/food/news/the-sweet-history-of-keralas-gi-tagged-marayoor-jaggery-article-111033930 |access-date=15 November 2024 |work=Times Now |date=16 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref> It is an agri-product manufactured from sugarcane which is a common and widely cultivated crop in [[Marayur|Marayoor]] and [[Kanthalloor]] [[Gram panchayat|Grama panchayaths]] of [[Devikulam taluk]], [[Idukki district]] grown particularly by the farmers of [[Muthuvan|Muthuva]] tribe.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kerala: Tribal honey finds a haven in Marayoor |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/May/07/kerala-tribal-honey-finds-a-haven-in-marayoor-1811129.html |access-date=15 November 2024 |work=The New Indian Express |date=7 May 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Marayoor To Coconut: 6 Types Of Jaggery To Replace Your Sugar |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle/food/news/marayoor-to-coconut-6-types-of-jaggery-to-replace-your-sugar-article-110917931 |access-date=15 November 2024 |work=Times Now |date=11 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Raman |first1=Giji K. |title=Marayur jaggery finally gets Geographical Indication tag |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/marayur-jaggery-finally-gets-geographical-indication-tag/article26460646.ece |access-date=15 November 2024 |work=The Hindu |date=7 March 2019 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

This area falls within the rain shadow region, receiving lower rainfall than surrounding areas due to its location on the [[leeward]] (downwind) side of [[Western Ghats]] mountain range.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marayoor Jaggery |url=https://www.mofpi.gov.in/mediapr/enewsfeb5.html |website=Ministry of Food Processing Industries |access-date=15 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vellaram |first1=Sandeep |title=Tribal farmers join hands to launch jaggery production unit |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/tribal-farmers-join-hands-to-launch-jaggery-production-unit/article68577184.ece |access-date=15 November 2024 |work=The Hindu |date=28 August 2024 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sulaiman |first1=Nejma |title=Kerala: Jaggery from tribal hamlets of Marayur to hit the market under new brand name |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2024/Aug/30/kerala-jaggery-from-tribal-hamlets-of-marayur-to-hit-the-market-under-new-brand-name |access-date=15 November 2024 |work=The New Indian Express |date=30 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

==Name==
Marayoor jaggery made from sugarcane is a prized crop in Marayoor town and so named after it.<ref>{{cite news |title=6 nutrient-rich jaggery varieties you need to try |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/6-nutrient-rich-jaggery-varieties-you-need-to-try/photostory/104828643.cms?picid=104828673 |access-date=15 November 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=30 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Marayoor Jaggery |url=https://forest.kerala.gov.in/index.php/vanasree/marayoor-jaggery#:~:text=%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%B2%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B3%E0%B4%82-,Marayoor%20Jaggery,crop%20of%20Marayoor%20and%20Kanthalloor. |website=Kerala Forest Department |access-date=15 November 2024}}</ref>

===Local name===
It is also known by "Marayoor Sharkara".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Raj |first1=Ashok |title=Magical Minds and Magical Hands All the Handicrafts and Handlooms Of Madhya Pradesh |publisher=True Sign Publishing House |isbn=978-93-5988-684-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AZgNEQAAQBAJ&dq=Marayoor+Jaggery&pg=PT158 |access-date=15 November 2024 |language=en}}</ref> It is made into forms of handmade jaggery, called 'Unda Sharkara', is available in ball form, characterized by its hardness, ease of storage, and long shelf life, with a golden brown to brown color. "Unda" means ball, while 'Sarkara' means the crude form of sugar in the local state language of [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]].<ref>{{cite web |title=GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS JOURNAL NO. 113 NOVEMBER 05, 2018 |url=https://ipindia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/IPOJournal/1_2680_1/Journal_113.pdf |website=Intellectual Property India |access-date=15 November 2024}}</ref>

==Description==
It is a high-quality, natural product with distinct characteristics. It has a brown to dark brown color, medium hardness, and a non-sticky texture, with visible finger marks from its handmade production process. Made without added natural or synthetic colors or artificial sweetening agents, this jaggery has a unique non-salty sweetness and characteristic taste. Its well-dried form and low water-insoluble matter ensure minimal dirt and soil content, setting it apart from other market samples.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vanasree Products |url=https://forest.kerala.gov.in/index.php/vanasree |website=Kerala Forest Department |access-date=15 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Experts |first1=Arihant |title=AMU Aligarh Muslim University B.A. Bachelor Of Arts 2022 |date=30 November 2021 |publisher=Arihant Publications India limited |isbn=978-93-257-9605-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K0BZEAAAQBAJ&dq=Marayoor+Jaggery+hand&pg=PP48 |access-date=15 November 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Spurious products pose threat to Kerala's GI tagged Marayoor jaggery |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/kerala/spurious-products-pose-threat-to-keralas-gi-tagged-marayoor-jaggery-2824806 |access-date=15 November 2024 |work=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

==Traditional jaggery production==
The art of jaggery-making in Marayoor has a rich history, with ancient references found in the Rigveda and Ayurvedic texts, dating back centuries.<ref name=":0" />{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

Marayoor Jaggery, renowned for its exceptional quality, is produced using traditional methods in approximately 150 country sheds scattered throughout the sugarcane fields of the region.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vellaram |first1=Sandeep |title=Sweet victory: Idukki's Marayoor Jaggery gets GI tag |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/sweet-victory-idukki-s-marayoor-jaggery-gets-gi-tag-97960 |access-date=15 November 2024 |work=The News Minute |date=8 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref> The labor-intensive process commences with the extraction of juice from carefully selected, clean sugarcane, followed by filtration to remove impurities. Clarification is achieved through the addition of lime, ensuring a clear juice. The juice is then boiled in large, copper or galvanized iron vessels fueled by [[bagasse]] (sugarcane waste) over a furnace, optimized with chimneys and baffles for efficient heat absorption. Constant stirring with long wooden spoons prevents charring, while skilled artisans assess the consistency using time-honored techniques, such as the "cold water test" and dipping their fingers in cold water and then in boiling juice. Once the optimal consistency is reached, the concentrated juice is transferred to wooden troughs for setting, after which it is hand-rolled into distinctive balls, bearing the artisan's fingerprint impressions. This artisanal process yields approximately 6,000 tons per year of premium Marayoor jaggery, primarily in its signature solid ball form (Unda sharkara), alongside smaller quantities of liquid (paani) and powder forms, all devoid of artificial colors, chemicals, or sweeteners.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Sweet History GI Tagged Marayoor Jaggery From Kerala |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle/food/news/the-sweet-history-of-keralas-gi-tagged-marayoor-jaggery-article-111033930 |access-date=15 November 2024 |work=Times Now |date=16 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

==Usage==
It is used as a traditional sweetener and key ingredient in [[Ayurveda|Ayurvedic]] medicine.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Krishnan |first1=Anjali |title=The 'Gur' Old Story of Why Jaggery is India's Favourite Sweetener |url=https://thebetterindia.com/281019/jaggery-health-benefits-marayur-patali-gur-natural-sweetener-indian-food/ |website=The Better India |access-date=15 November 2024 |date=31 March 2022}}</ref> It has a revered place in Kerala's temples, where it's used in as an integral part of traditional ceremonies and rituals.<ref>{{cite book |title=Kerala, an Authentic Handbook |date=2010 |publisher=Information-Public Relations Department, Government of Kerala |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QEU8VKzq-XIC&q=Marayoor+Jaggery |access-date=15 November 2024 |language=en}}</ref> It is also used in traditional Kerala [[sadya]]s (feasts), and jaggery-coated [[plantain chips]], known as sharkaraperatti, which are a staple delicacy, served alongside other signature dishes.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanand |first=Swapna Raghu |date=18 March 2019 |title=Sweetest ever Marayur jaggery gets GI tag: This labour of love will move you! |newspaper=[[The Financial Express (India)]] |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/life/lifestyle-sweetest-ever-marayur-jaggery-gets-gi-tag-this-labour-of-love-will-move-you-1519642/ |access-date=15 November 2024 }}</ref>

==Geographical indication==
It was awarded the [[List of geographical indications in India|Geographical Indication]] (GI) status tag from the [[Geographical Indication Registry (India)|Geographical Indications Registry]] under the [[Government of India|Union Government of India]] on 6 March 2019 (valid until 15 March 2028).<ref>{{cite web |title=Geographical Indications |publisher=Intellectual Property India |url=https://search.ipindia.gov.in/GIRPublic/Application/Details/613 |access-date=15 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Paul |first=Biju E. |title=Onattukara sesame enters list of GI-tagged products from Kerala, thanks to KAU |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/Jan/03/onattukara-sesame-enters-list-of-gi-tagged-products-from-kerala-thanks-to-kau-2534085.html |access-date=15 November 2024 |newspaper=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=3 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Kerala's Marayoor jaggery shipped to Canada |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/money/kerala-s-marayoor-jaggery-shipment-to-canada-flags-off-1.8176552 |access-date=15 November 2024 |newspaper=English.[[Mathrubhumi]] |date=30 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

Anchunadu Karimbu Ulpadhana Vipanana Sangham from Marayoor town, proposed the GI registration of Marayoor jaggery. After filing the application in March 2018, the jaggery was granted the GI tag in 2019 by the Geographical Indication Registry in [[Chennai]], making the name "Marayoor jaggery" exclusive to the jaggery manufactured in the region. It thus became the second jaggery variety from Kerala after [[Central Travancore jaggery]] and the 31st type of goods from Kerala to earn the GI tag.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 March 2018 |title=GI Registration of Marayoor Jaggery |publisher=IPR Cell, [[Kerala Agricultural University]] |url=https://www.origin-gi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2019-04-16_18.59.55.pdf |via=oriGIn {{!}} Organization for an International Geographical Indications Network |access-date=15 November 2024 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Central Travancore jaggery]]
* [[Edayur chilli]]
* [[Kuttiattoor Mango]]
* [[Kolhapur jaggery|Kolhapur Jaggery]]
* [[Muzaffarnagar jaggery]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Kerala cuisine]]
[[Category:Economy of Kerala]]
[[Category:Agriculture in Kerala]]
[[Category:GI Tagged Jaggery varieties of India]]
[[Category:Geographical indications in Kerala]]

Marayoor jaggery - Revision history

Lucie45F0227 at 12:05, 23 May 2025