Brahmanbaria's famous “Chanamukhi” has been recognized as a Geographical Indication (GI) product. Following the application of the Brahmanbaria district administration, this confectionary has been recognized as a GI product. The Directorate of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT), an institution under the Ministry of Industries, confirmed the matter. DPDT recognizes the GI of a product. If the culture of the population plays the most important role in the production of a product in the context of the soil, water, and climate of a country, then it is recognized as a GI product of that country. GI recognition is very important to identify a product.
Chanamukhi is a famous dessert of Brahmanbaria. Its fame is increasing day by day across the country. The name of this chanamukhi is associated with the history and tradition of Brahmanbaria.
Chanamukhi of Brahmanbaria is also appreciated all over the country like Manda of Muktagacha in Mymensingh, Dai of Bogra, Kachagolla of Natore, Chamcham of Tangail and Balish Sweets of Netrakona.
Chanamukhi is a special dessert made of milk chickpeas coated with sugar. This Chanamukhi, famous in Brahmanbaria since the British era, is famous throughout the country. Its value is increasing day by day with the increase in price.
Chanamukhi is especially appreciated by foodies. It is unmatched in hospitality. When the people of Brahmanbaria visit their relative's house in other districts, they take Chanamukhi with them. Again, even if someone from outside district comes to visit Brahmanbaria, he is also entertained with Chanamukhi. Chanamukhi is also given to him at the time of farewell.
There are very few foodies who have come to Brahmanbaria and have not eaten Chanamukhi or taken Chanamukhi home with them. Every day many chicks are going from Brahmanbaria to other districts. Not only within the country, are the chicks here also going abroad.
The history of Chanamukhi in Brahmanbaria is hundred years old. According to folklore, a sweet maker named Mahadeb Pade from Kashidham, India first started making sweets called Chanamukhi with milk chickpeas in a shop in Brahmanbaria.
Folklore has it that Mahadev Paday of Kashidham, India took the hand of his elder brother Durga Prasad and moved to Calcutta, India about a hundred years ago. He started working in his elder brother's sweet shop in Kolkata. After the death of Durga Prasad, without shelter, Mahadeb embarked on an aimless journey. One time he came to Brahmanbaria city.
At that time, Shibaram Modak had a sweet shop in Medda in present Brahmanbaria Municipal area. Shibram Modak sheltered Mahadeb Paday in his own shop. Mahadeb started making sweets called Chanamukhi from milk chicks in Shibram's shop. Since then, when the reputation of Chanamukhi started spreading, other shopkeepers also started selling Chanamukhi.
Those who know Chanamukhi's name make their tongues slips. The taste of Chanamukhi is so rich that even a small amount will satisfy you.
Chhanamukhi is square in shape. Chanamukhi has a light sugar coating on the top side. And the whole is made with milk chicks.
Each Chanamukhi weighs 10 to 15 grams. As such, an average of 80/90 pieces of chickpeas are available per kg.
This Chanamukhi is made in few shops of Dr Faridul Huda Road, Mahadeb Patti and TA Road in Brahmanbaria city.
Chanamukhi of several shops including Bholagiri Sweets Store, Adarsh Matri Sweets Store, Matri Sweets Store, Madhuraj Sweets Store, Bholanath Sweets Store, Chanamukhi of Anandamoyi Sweets Store are quite famous.
Talking to the stakeholders, it is known that 7/8 liters of cow's milk is required to make one kg of Chanamukhi. First, the milk is boiled and cooled after. Later the chicks are placed in a piece where the water will drain. The chick is tied in a clean cloth and hung up and water is poured. The hardened chickpeas are then cut into small pieces of roughly uniform shape. Then the chickpeas are left in a vein made with a mixture of water, sugar and cardamom and stirred. Later the chicks are removed from the vein and cooled i.e dried.
According to district administration sources, on September 24, Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT), an institution under the Ministry of Industry, confirmed to Brahmanbaria district administration that Chanamukhi was registered as a GI product of Brahmanbaria. Chanamukhi Geographical Indication (GI) number-41 in DPDT. The GI certificate sent to the district administration by DPDT Director General Md Munim Hasan Swakshi mentions that the Geographical Indication (the specimen of which is attached) has been registered in the registration book in the name of Brahmanbaria District Commissioner under class 29 and 30 under GI-75 number for Chanamukhi Sweets of Brahmanbaria since April 8 this year.
Brahmanbaria's then Deputy Commissioner (January 1, 2022 to December 14, 2023) Md Shahgir Alam first and then outgoing Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Habibur Rahman filed a 10-page application with the Registrar of DPDT on April 2 to recognize "Chanamukhi" sweets as a Geographical Indication (GI) food. There he mentioned various things in detail including the characteristics of Chanamukhi sweets, geographical name, description of Chanamukhi, production method.
It is known that the name of Chanamukhi is mentioned as an old and traditional dish in the district information. The price of Chanamukhi per kg is Tk 700.
Dullal Chandra Pal (60) has been working in the Adarsh Matri Bhandar of the district town for almost 40 years.. Dulal said that one kg of Chanamukhi is made with 7 to 8 liters of milk and one kg of sugar. There are several steps in making Chanamukhi. First cow's milk should be burnt. Then the hot milk should be cooled and turned into curd. Keep chicks in a clean bowl to drain excess water. Then the chick should be tied in a cloth and hung so that all the water drains away. If it hangs like this for a long time, the chick will become hard. Hard chickpeas should be cut into small pieces with a knife. Then put a pan on the stove and boil it with water, sugar and cardamom and make veins. After that, the chickpeas pieces should be left in the sugar vein and stirred. Finally, take the pieces of chickpeas from the sugar vein and place them in a large container. The container should be kept in an open space or under a fan and shaken to dry. By this the chickpeas will be ready.
Dulal Chandra Modak, son of Rakhal Modak, the owner of Adarsh Matri Bhandar, said that being recognized as a child-friendly GI product is honorable news for the district. We are happy. He said that Chanamukhi is regularly going outside the country.
Advocate Abdun Noor, convenor of Brahmanbaria, collective cultural alliance, said, Chanamukhi is the tradition of Brahmanbaria. We are proud of our heritage. We are very happy to be recognized as a GI product. This is honorable news for the district.
In this regard, Brahmanbaria Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md. Saiful Islam said that chicks have been recognized as GI products. Officially, Chanamukhi has been brought under the branding of Brahmanbaria. It has also been included in the District Brandbook. Foreign guests including those of ministerial rank are entertained with Chanamukhi.
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