What It Is
Papad is a thin, crisp wafer made mostly from urad flour, and also from moong, rice and other flours. It is a traditional cottage industry that employs large numbers of women.
How It Is Made
Urad flour is mixed with salt, spices and papad khar (an alkaline salt), kneaded into dough, rolled into thin discs by hand or machine, and dried in the sun or in driers.
Uses and Buyers
Households, restaurants, caterers and export buyers.
Quality and Standards
Food products must meet FSSAI standards and labelling rules; many are also sold under the AGMARK grading mark, and exporters follow the buying country's rules on residues and contaminants.
Trade and Exports
Bikaner, Amritsar, Gujarat and Mumbai are major papad centres. Papad is exported to the Gulf, UK, USA and Southeast Asia.
Where the Raw Material Comes From
Processors buy urad from the main growing states below. Plants are usually built close to these belts, or close to ports for imported raw material, to keep freight low and quality fresh. Tap a state for its districts, markets, season and buyers.
| State | Main districts |
|---|---|
| Madhya Pradesh | Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Damoh, Sagar, Panna |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lalitpur, Jhansi, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Banda |
| Maharashtra | Latur, Osmanabad (Dharashiv), Nanded, Jalgaon, Buldhana |
| Andhra Pradesh | Krishna, Guntur, West Godavari, Prakasam |
| Tamil Nadu | Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Villupuram, Cuddalore |
| Rajasthan | Bhilwara, Tonk, Bundi, Ajmer |
| Jharkhand | Palamu, Godda, Dumka, Pakur |
Makers, Processors and Bodies
- Lijjat Papad (Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad)Mumbai · women's cooperativeAboutExplore
- Bikaji Foods International LtdPapad and namkeenAboutExplore
- Haldiram Snacks Pvt LtdPapad and namkeenAboutExplore
Related: Urad · All products · All crops
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