‘Odisha Rasagola’ gets GI Tag
After years of controversy around sweet, Rasagola, a popular dessert of Odisha, has received Geographical Indication (GI) tag in GI Registry from Registrar of Geographical Indication. Both Odisha and West Bengal have been contesting origin of rasagola and West Bengal had got GI for ‘Banglar Rasogolla’ in 2017.
As per Historical records submitted Odisha Rasagola has an age-old tradition and is associated with world famous Puri Jagannath Temple as it is offered to Lord Jagannath as part of bhog since centuries.
Key Highlights
Registration was conferred on Odisha Rasagola under Section 16(I)/ of authorised Section 17(3)(c) of Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999. GI Tag number 612 (which is 2nd received by Odisha after Kandhamal Haldi) has been registered in favour of Odisha Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (OSIC Ltd.) and and Utkal Mistanna Byabasayee Samiti in foodstuff category. OSIC Ltd. is a Government of Odisha undertaking and Utkal Mistanna Byabasayee Samiti is a traders’ organisation.
Uniqueness of Odisha Rasagola: As per application submitted to Registrar of GI for GI status-
- Method: Odisha Rasagola is a sweet from state of Odisha made of chhena (cottage cheese) cooked in sugar syrup, which is very soft to feel, is juicy and non- chewy in consistency and can be swallowed without pressure from teeth.
- Colour development of Odisha Rasagola is very specific, where without addition of external colour, various intensely-coloured rasagolas are prepared using principle of caramelisation of sugar with a very specific methods of preparation.
- Ancient: Reference of rasagola was found in late 15th century, Odia (Dandi) Ramayana written by Balaram Das.
What is meaning of Geographical Indication Tag?
GI tag for a particular product, which experts call Legal Right, recognises it as distinctive to a particular locality/region/country. As a World Trade Organization (WTO) member country, India had enacted Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999. This act came into force from 2003.
