Kaji Nemu

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Kaji Nemu
Geographical indication
kaajinemu.jpg
Kaji Nemu
Alternative namesKazi Nemu, Kajinemu
TypeAgricultural
Area Assam
Country India
Registered10 May 2019
Material Lemon

Kaji Nemu is a special variety of Assam lemon grown in various parts of Assam. Kaji Nemu is the state fruit of Assam. [1] Kaji Nemu has some characteristics that set it apart from other lemons, particularly its distinct smell and relatively larger size. Kaji Nemu fruits do not fall off the tree for many days after ripening, and they usually bear fruit throughout the year. On 10 May 2019, Kaji Nemu received geographical indication tag. [2]

Contents

Description

Kaji Nemu is a perennial thorny shrub. Its leaves are dark green in color and emit a fragrance when picked. The trees typically grow to a height of 2–3.5 m, with leaves measuring 7–10 cm in length and 3–5 cm in width. Kaji Nemu trees have a lifespan of about 20 to 25 years. They produce light purple flowers and yield 300 to 500 fruits when mature. Each fruit weighs about 60–100 grams, and the trees can yield 20 to 30 tonnes per hectare per year. The lemon's bark is thin, and ripe lemons are rich in juice. The fruit ranges in color from dark green to light green-yellow and is suitable for picking. Kaji Nemu are produced throughout the year, although production is lower from November to January. [3] [4] [5]

Major producing districts include Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Cachar, Chirang, Nalbari and Dima Hasao. [6]

Kaji Nemu in Assamese Thali. It is in the upper right position to the rice, near salt and green chilli Assamese Thali.jpg
Kaji Nemu in Assamese Thali. It is in the upper right position to the rice, near salt and green chilli

Agriculture

Kaji Nemu thrives best in loamy soils with good drainage, avoiding water retention. A dry subtropical climate is ideal for lemon cultivation. Kaji Nemu is primarily propagated through cuttings, although seedlings can also be grown from seeds. To achieve higher yields, appropriate fertilizers and water management practices should be applied, while pesticides are recommended to protect against pests and diseases. [3]

Speciality

Kaji Nemu exhibits several distinctive characteristics, including its larger size compared to other lemons, often resulting in seedless fruit or very few seeds. Other notable features include: [3]

Uses

Kaji Nemu with Chunga Saul, fish steamed with mustard paste and Assamese style Duck curry Assamese Cuisin.jpg
Kaji Nemu with Chunga Saul, fish steamed with mustard paste and Assamese style Duck curry

Kaji Nemu holds a special significance in Assamese cuisine, where raw lemon slices are commonly served with rice and curries, allowing diners to season their meal as desired by squeezing the lemon slices. Moreover, lemons play a ceremonial role in weddings and are utilized in preparing tangy and sour dishes. Beyond culinary applications, Kaji Nemu possesses medicinal properties, making it a common ingredient in home remedies. Additionally, the fruit is utilized to extract essential oils for various purposes, further showcasing its versatility and importance in Assamese culture. It used for preparing refreshing drinks and pickles as well as garnishing curry and other dishes. [7]

Geographical indication

On January 5, 2018, the CRS Na-Dihing Nemu Tenga Development Committee, in collaboration with Assam Agricultural University, submitted an application for geographical recognition of Kaji Nemu. On May 10, 2019, it was granted a Geographical indication tag, acknowledging its unique geographical origin and characteristics. [8] [9] In February 2024, Government of Assam named it as state fruit, highlighting the unique aroma and antioxidant properties of the indigenous lemon variety. [10]

Related Research Articles

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Kumquats, or cumquats in Australian English, are a group of small, angiosperm, fruit-bearing trees in the family Rutaceae. Their taxonomy is disputed. They were previously classified as forming the now-historical genus Fortunella or placed within Citrus, sensu lato. Different classifications have alternatively assigned them to anywhere from a single species, Citrus japonica, to numerous species representing each cultivar. Recent genomic analysis defines three pure species, Citrus hindsii, C. margarita and C. crassifolia, with C. × japonica being a hybrid of the last two.

<i>Citrus</i> Genus of flowering plants

Citrus is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including crops such as oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. The genus Citrus is native to South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Melanesia, and Australia. Various citrus species have been used and domesticated by indigenous cultures in these areas since ancient times. From there its cultivation spread into Micronesia and Polynesia by the Austronesian expansion ; and to the Middle East and the Mediterranean via the incense trade route, and onwards to Europe and the Americas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breadfruit</span> Edible fruit-bearing tree in the family Moraceae

Breadfruit is a species of flowering tree in the mulberry and jackfruit family (Moraceae) believed to be a domesticated descendant of Artocarpus camansi originating in New Guinea, the Maluku Islands, and the Philippines. It was initially spread to Oceania via the Austronesian expansion. It was further spread to other tropical regions of the world during the Colonial Era. British and French navigators introduced a few Polynesian seedless varieties to Caribbean islands during the late 18th century. Today it is grown in some 90 countries throughout South and Southeast Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean, Central America and Africa. Its name is derived from the texture of the moderately ripe fruit when cooked, similar to freshly baked bread and having a potato-like flavor.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assamese cuisine</span> Cuisine of Assam, India

Assamese cuisine is the cuisine of the Indian state of Assam. It is a style of cooking that is a confluence of cooking habits of the hills that favour fermentation and drying as forms of preservation and those from the plains that provide extremely wide variety of fresh vegetables and greens, and an abundance of fish and meat. Both are centred on the main ingredient — rice. It is a mixture of different indigenous styles with considerable regional variations and some external influences. The traditional way of cooking and the cuisine of Assam is very similar to South-East Asian countries such as Thailand, Burma (Myanmar) and others. The cuisine is characterized by very little use of spices, little cooking over fire, and strong flavours due mainly to the use of endemic exotic fruits and vegetables that are either fresh, dried or fermented. Fish is widely used, and birds like duck, pigeon, squab, etc. are very popular, which are often paired with a main vegetable or ingredient; beef used to be eaten before British colonialism, and some continue to do so. Preparations are rarely elaborate. The practice of bhuna, the gentle frying of spices before the addition of the main ingredients so common in Indian cooking, is absent in the cuisine of Assam. The preferred oil for cooking is the pungent mustard oil.

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The Assam lemon, also known as nemu tenga in Assamese, are cultivars of lemon, which are found and cultivated in the Indian state of Assam. The most popular of them are 'Kaji Nemu' and 'Gul Nemu'. "Kaji Nemu" has been declared as the State Fruit of Assam, by the Cabinet. The Agriculture Department of the Government of Assam has amplified its production, boosting its originality and uniqueness.These lemons are an important part of Assamese cuisine .These lemon are also famous for their significant smell.

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References

  1. Kangkan Kalita (14 February 2024). "Assam's unique Kaji Nemu gets status of state fruit". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  2. "Application Details" . Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "G.I. APPLICATION NUMBER-609" (PDF). Geographical Indications Journal (123): 13–21. May 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  4. "Precious Lemons". natasha-pointstoponder.blogspot.in. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  5. "ASSAM LEMON (Citrus Limon L. Burmf)" (PDF). www.kiran.nic.in.
  6. Desk, Sentinel Digital (2022-03-27). "Kaji Nemu - Sentinelassam". www.sentinelassam.com. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
  7. "Design and Development of a Hand Operated Assam Lemon Fruit Harvester". Sustainability and Social Innovation Lab. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  8. "Kaji Nemu (Lemon) got GI tag in Assam". AGRI ICAR JRF. November 18, 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  9. Karelia, Gopi (2021-08-17). "Assam's 'Accidental' Seedless Lemon Variety Doubles Farmer Profits in UK". The Better India. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
  10. "Assam government declares Kaji Nemu as state fruit". 13 February 2024.