Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: After securing Geographical Indication (GI) status for five traditional products earlier this year, Goa has intensified efforts to obtain similar recognition for another set of products closely associated with the State’s culinary traditions, agriculture and cultural identity.
Applications seeking GI registration for Goa coconut, Goa salt, Goan bread varieties such as pao, poi and undo, Goan doce and Goa recheado masala were submitted in December last year and are presently under examination by the GI Registry.
The Bardez Taluka Farmers Producer Company Limited has applied for GI recognition for Goa coconut, while the Tiswadi Taluka Farmers Producer Company Limited has filed applications for Goa salt and Goa recheado masala. Applications for Goan doce and the traditional bread varieties have been submitted by the Department of Science, Technology and Waste Management (DST&WM).
According to the applications, Goa coconut is among the State’s most historic agricultural products and has been cultivated along the coastal belt for centuries. Known for its distinctive taste, high oil yield and integral role in local cuisine, religious practices and rural livelihoods, the crop is considered an important part of Goa’s heritage.
The application for Goa salt highlights its connection to the ancient khazan ecosystem, a sophisticated network of reclaimed saline lands developed along the estuaries of major rivers such as the Mandovi, Zuari, Sal and Chapora. Traditional salt production in these regions evolved through indigenous tidal management techniques involving embankments, sluice gates and bund systems, giving it a unique identity.
Goa recheado masala, a signature spice blend widely used in seafood preparations, has also been projected as a product possessing a distinct regional character shaped by local ingredients and generations of culinary traditions.
Sources indicated that the GI Registry has sought additional information and clarifications regarding the applications for Goan poi, pao and undo, Goan doce and Goa recheado masala. The applicants and the State government are understood to be in the process of responding to these queries.
Earlier this year, Goa secured GI status for Goa Cashew Apple, Mussarad Mango, Maang-Hilario Mango, Khorgut Rice and Taleigao Brinjal, further strengthening the State’s portfolio of protected traditional products.
Goa already has several GI-recognised products, including Mancurad Mango, Bebinca, Agassaim Brinjal, Seven-Sided Okra (Saat Shiro Bhendo), Moira Banana, Harmal Chillies, Feni, Khola Chillies and Khajem, reflecting the rich agricultural and culinary heritage of the State.
The proposed GI registrations are expected to enhance the market value of these products, preserve traditional knowledge and practices, and provide greater recognition to Goa’s unique cultural and gastronomic legacy.
