Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai - The Newest Addition to India’s GI Tags

From social media sources to news channels, all that is being circulated is information pertaining to the deadly Coronavirus. Amidst this surrounding fear and anxiety, sweet news went unnoticed and not many cheered for it. In here we are talking about newest addition to the geographical tags in India, the Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai, or as many regard it, peanut candy hailing from the state of Tamil Nadu.    

The GI application was filed by Kovilpatti Regional Kadalaimittai Manufacturers and Retailers Association of the address Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, back in the year 2014 under Class 30 for ‘Foods Stuffs’ before the Registrar of Geographical Indications, Chennai. After five years of wait, good news finally came in for the association on April 20th. At present, Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai stands are registered under GI No. 486.

This Peanut candy is made from a unique combination of an organic jaggery and groundnuts, which can be solely grown in the native black soil found in and areas around Kovilpatti. The candy making process, for sure, involves a number of steps that are being traditionally followed by the Tamilians since ages. At first, groundnuts are carefully selected from black soil regions like Arrupukottai and thereafter shelled and roasted. Further, they are held together by unique yet lip-smacking glistening syrup that is processed from an organic type of jaggery called ‘vellam’. To give it an essence of traditional the Tamil culture, the candy is usually topped with dyed coconuts available in pink, yellow and green shades,  Whilst the production, water exclusively from the Thamirabarani river is used, giving the candy an authentic flavor. Once hardened, the candy is cut-down and packed into rectangular chunks or cubes and thereafter, sold in markets.

In point of fact, manufacturing and marketing of first ever Kovilpatti Kadalai Mithai dates back to 1940s, when one local grocery store owner, Ponnambala Nadar started marketing this peanut candy. Talking about the history part, this particular ‘mithai’ was specially prepared during festival season in the villages of Tamil Nadu since decades. As of now, there exist more than 150 peanut candy manufacturers in and around Kovilpatti district employing over 6000 workers. 

In an interview, Kovilpatti Regional Kadalaimittai Manufacturers and Retailers Association’s President, Mr. A Kartheeswaram stated, “It is a big recognition for all those who manufacture the delicacy in this town and nearby villages. The tag will help us maintain the quality of the sweet candy.”