HYDERABAD: Perfected in the kitchens of the nizams, Hyderabadi biryani is known for its rich and tempting flavour. It is undoubtedly the best of South Indian dishes and foreigners arriving in the Pearl City scour the streets in search of the delicacy.
But the signature dish is yet to get the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. It’s been more than six years since hoteliers from Hyderabad applied for GI status for the culinary delight, but nothing has materialised. Though it is said that the origin of the unique ‘dum’ biryani can be traced to Persia, the hoteliers failed to produce historical evidence about its origin. Experts are also of the opinion that the non-disclosure of complete recipe might have posed hurdles to the efforts to get the prestigious GI tag.
In 2009, nearly 200 hotels in the city formed an association named Connoisseurs of Deccani Biryani Maker Association and applied for the GI tag for Hyderabadi Biryani at the Geographical Indication’s registry office in Chennai.
Ravi S, Intellectual Property Attorney, who was also part of the team which got a GI tag for Hyderabadi Haleem, said it was the failure to produce historical evidence that spoiled the efforts. Critics feel that the hoteliers’ reluctance to reveal the recipe was the stumbling block for getting the GI tag.
In 2013, the GI registry had asked the applicants to produce documentary proof in respect of historical data and proof of the origin of Hyderabadi Kacchi Ghosth Dum Biryani.