Judima, a favorite name of every resident of Assam which always brings smiles to their faces. To all those Judima lovers, a big celebration is on your way as it has been granted a GI Tag. For those who are unaware of this legendary brew, it is a homemade rice wine associated with Assam’s Dimasa tribe. It has become the first traditional brew in the whole of the northeast that managed to bag a Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.

Its recipe includes sticky rice, which is steamed and then also mixed with some traditional herbs. It takes almost one week time to prepare this wine. The wine has its own distinct sweet taste. The best part is that it can be stored for long years. It is one of the specialties of the Dimasa tribe living in the Dima Hasao district of the state.

“We are elated at the recognition Judima has got. It has been the outcome of nearly three years of efforts,” said Subodh Maibongsha, principal scientist and head of Krishi Vikash Kendra (agriculture development center) at Diphu in Assam. “While efforts are underway to get the GI tag for some other traditional alcoholic beers made by different tribes in the region, Judima is the first such drink to get the recognition,” he added.

Maibongsa along with his colleagues at Youth Association for Development and Empowerment (YADEM) applied for seeking the GI Tag in the year 2018 with the sole aim of providing global recognition to brew. “Following suggestions that it would be better to apply through a women’s group (since Judima is traditionally made by women), we formed a women’s group called Dimajik Hasao and reapplied for the tag in 2019,” said Uttam Baithari, professor of history in Gauhati University. He is also actively associated with the process. “We would have got the GI recognition the same year, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions, it took several months, and finally we got it this month,” he added. “Judima is traditionally made in our homes, but we wanted to brand it and market elsewhere and also to ensure its preservation for the future. That’s why we formed our group and applied for the GI tag,” Mukuta Hojai, executive member of Dimajik Hasao said.

The agricultural research division of Jorhat-based Assam Agriculture University acted as a facilitator in the whole process starting from application to grant of the status to Judima. The division had successfully earlier got three products of Assam the GI recognition which is- Kaji Nemu (a type of lemon), Joha Rice (a variety of flavored rice), and Chokuwa Rice. This GI Tag would now not only ensure a quality control mechanism but also enable all those who have the right to its use. This will help in the prevention of its misuse by that kind of third party whose product does not conform to the applicable standards of Judima.

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