Morung Express News
KOHIMA | OCTOBER 24
Believe it or not, but, a new theory is doing the rounds on how Dorset Naga, commonly known as Raja Mircha, got into Bangladesh. According to this theory, it is believed that the world’s hottest chilli was taken to Bangladesh by Naga undergrounds during the early part of the Naga political movement when they went there for training.
Chilli is one indispensable spice for Nagas, as its not only gives taste to cuisine, but also because of its appetizingly hot flavour and other curative properties.
Chief Minister Neiphiu also appears to endorse this theory. At the recent workshop on Biodiversity Act, Rio told the participants that Raja Mircha was first taken to Bangladesh by Naga undergrounds.
Some ex- undergrounds leaders who went to Bangladesh jungle for training at that time admitted that they used to carry lots of Raja Mircha along with other food items, and the chilli might have dispersed through human excreta or in course of transportation.
This new theory believes that once this chilli might have grown wild in the Bangladesh jungles, from where Bangladeshis collected and started to cultivate. Later they took along with them to Britain when some of them went to live.
Till Joy and Micheal, the founder duo of Peppers by Post, discovered this chilli, it was known as ‘Naga Morich’ in Britain, and is highly regarded by the British-Bangladeshi community and is also widely available in catering shops.
A Pepper by Post is small market garden, where it grows and sell fresh chilli by Post throughout Britain, and located by the sea in west Dorset.
The name Dorset Naga was given after Joy and Micheal successful grew it, sampled and got tested for its hotness in 2005 and later on got it patented.
Interestingly, Nagas love Raja Mircha not only for its hotness, but for its strong pungent aroma which is addictively appetizing, but the world seems to have not tasted its actual flavour till date, and the debate is doing around only on its Scuoville Heats unit.
Similar varieties of chilli are also found in Tezpur area of Assam, which is known by different name such as ‘Bhut Jolokia, Naga Jolokia, Naga Morich or Bih Jolokia. Experts said all these are members of the chilly called capsicum chenense/capsicum frustescens.
