News World Britain's Indian Balti cuisine seeks EU protection

Britain's Indian Balti cuisine seeks EU protection

London: Cuisine from the Indian sub-continent has taken on different forms in Britain and among the popular ones is “Balti” from Birmingham, which has applied for protected name status across the European Union.  The Balti



Liberal Democrat member of European Parliament (MEP) Phil Bennion has backed the Birmingham Balti Association's campaign.

“I have been a massive Balti fan since I was a student at Birmingham University. The Balti method produces a very different flavour to the typical ‘Indian restaurant' curries seen all over Britain, which I believe use a culinary technique of combining various curry sauces using ghee instead of light vegetable oil. I love both kinds of curry, but they are different,” said Bennion, who has launched a petition in favour of the application.

Adas, the agency which helps in the application process, said it would be a big advantage for the city's so-called “Balti Triangle” district and “pin down” its recipe and cooking method.

Irene Bocchetta, EU protected food names manager at Adas, said it was unusual to have a place name included in a TSG application.

“But people know the Balti is from Birmingham. It is a reputation that has been built up over years,” she said.  

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