About Mushk budiji Rice
- It is an indigenous aromatic rice variety that is usually grown at an altitude ranging from 5000 to 7000 ft above mean sea level in Highland Himalayas.
- It is short, bold aromatic rice grown in the higher reaches of Kashmir valley.
- The cooked rice is unique and possesses a harmonious blend of taste, aroma and rich organoleptic properties.
- It is mainly grown in areas of Sagam, Panzgam and Soaf Shali of district Anantnag and Beerwah belt of district Budgam.
- The consumption of aromatic rice in Kashmir has now been limited to special occasions, marriages, and festivals.
- It has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Highlights of the study
- Scientists conduct a study of selected locations on the flavour profile of mushk budiji using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and an ‘electronic nose’.”
- Based on these studies, the scientists identified 35 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in mushk budiji rice samples. Of these, the concentration of aldehydes (molecules containing the functional group -CH=O) ranged from 6.33% to 29.09% and alcohols (-OH) from 0.47% to 30.34%.
- Acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP) is a known aromatic compound found in some varieties – but it was present only in mushk budiji samples collected from higher altitudes, particularly in the districts of Budgam and Kupwara.
What is Chromatography-mass spectroscopy?
- It is an analytical method used to reveal the presence of volatile compounds present in organic mixtures extracted from geological, environmental, and biological samples.
Q1) What is a geographical indication?
It is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. Geographical Indications are part of the intellectual property rights that comes under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
Source: Recipe for unique mushk budiji aroma includes altitude and temperature: study
Last updated on August, 2026
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