Bikaneri Bhujia

The city of Bikaner in the Indian state of Rajasthan is most famous for its bhujia, a popular, crispy snack made with flour and a variety of spices. It is characterized by its intense yellow color. Although the snack is commonly consumed throughout India, the authentic Bikaneri bhujia is not made with besan gram flour, but with ground moth lentils, an unusual crop growing only in the deserts of Bikaner and Jodhpur, giving the snack its unique crispness. It is said that the first bhujia was made in Bikaner around 1877, during the time of Maharaja Dungar Singh Ji. With its long shelf life and unique ingredients, the snack was granted a Geographical Indication protection (GI) in September 2010, ensuring that only registered and authorized producers can make and sell this flavorful snack under the branded name.