Saturday, June 7, 2025
  • Contact Us
  • About BBS
  • Privacy & Policy
ENG
DZO
BBSCL Logo
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Education
  • More
    • Announcement
    • Audience Survey Report
    • Programme
    • Radio Dzo-Channel Schedule
    • Radio Mix-Channel Schedule
Radio Live
No Result
View All Result
BBSCL logo
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Education
  • More
    • Announcement
    • Audience Survey Report
    • Programme
    • Radio Dzo-Channel Schedule
    • Radio Mix-Channel Schedule
No Result
View All Result
BBSCL logo
Radio LIVE

Making natural jaggery in Pema Gatshel

February 19, 2022
in Sci/Tech, Video Story
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
0
SHARES
31
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Tshatshi Guram or jaggery from Nanong Gewog in Pema Gatshel is quite popular. For most of the people in Nanong and Tshatshi chiwogs, it is one of their main sources of income. The people have been making jaggery for decades using the laborious traditional method. Jaggery is prepared by boiling raw sugarcane juice till it solidifies.

The farmers collect the sugar canes, the main ingredient of jaggery, from the fields. It is then taken to a makeshift processing unit where the sugarcane is crushed for juice extraction. The farmers use the machine as it’s easier than the traditional method.

“I started cultivating sugar cane when I was sixteen or seventeen years old. It has helped us make some income. Moreover, because of its availability, it’s allowed us to take it as gifts whenever we visit our relatives. And that’s how we have been able to keep this culture alive,” said Cheten, a resident of Zhingri.

“I have seen my father processing jaggery and that’s how I learnt it from seeing him. And since then I haven’t looked back. I make sure I teach the youth too,” said Norbu Wangdi, a resident of Kulung.

The crushed juice is poured into jerry cans and taken home. The juice is then poured into a large pan and stirred continuously with the fire underneath being constantly adjusted. The process is repeated for nearly seven hours. The making of jaggery is a beautifully strategized process that involves tremendous skills.

“We must know the process properly. We have to keep stirring the liquid and do not allow it to become lumpy or burnt. And if we boil beyond its limit, it will become something else. It is considered good when it turns yellow. We have to stir it continuously to free it from the impurities and dust,” said Norbu Wangdi.

Before shaping the liquid to the desired shape, they sprinkle corn flour on the flat wooden board with conically shaped holes. The corn flour ensures that the liquid does not stick to the wooden board. Once ready, they pour the liquid into the wooden board to solidify it. Through the laborious method of boiling the liquid for almost seven hours, they get a tray of jaggery balls.

“We heard that there is an electric oven but we are yet to receive it. We are told we will be provided with one soon. If it is provided then we don’t have to struggle in the smoke like always. It will also help us reduce the use of firewood as we end up using a lot of it,” said Cheten.

“It is very difficult to cut trees and we don’t have many. We must burn at least three to four logs of firewood to boil a large pan of jaggery. So, if there is an electric oven then it will make a huge difference,” said Norbu Wangdi.

“Tshatshi guram is produced only in our gewog. So, we are interested in this. And we are learning how to process it. While the process is not tiring, it’s the smoke that makes it difficult. We have to stay near the fire for a long time,” said Tashi Tobgay, a youth from Thongshing Gag.

However, the exhausting method of making jaggery has not stopped them from giving up. About a hundred households from the two chiwogs in Nanong Gewog harvest sugarcane to produce jaggery.

“We have been into the jaggery business for decades. However, some people find the process exhausting. But jaggery is the only source of income for us. We don’t grow vegetables here so this is the only way to make an income. That’s why we give our best,” added Norbu Wangdi.

“The sugarcane leaves and its waste after the juice are fed to the cattle. We earn a decent amount. We don’t get customers at once. A few people buy 100 pairs at a time but most of them just take 10 to 15 pairs,” added Cheten.

They earn between Nu 20,000 to 200,000 annually.

As per international research, jaggery is known for its health benefits which include its ability to cleanse the body and help in digestion.

Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel

Edited by Sonam Pem

Previous Post

Nu 32 M water project fails to deliver; people disappointed in Haa

Next Post

Phase-wise relaxation begins in Phuentshogling

Next Post
Phase-wise relaxation begins in Phuentshogling

Phase-wise relaxation begins in Phuentshogling

Fuel depot construction in Autsho at snail’s pace due to pandemic

Fuel depot construction in Autsho at snail’s pace due to pandemic

NRDCL and Langpa-Nobgang community at loggerheads over the company’s timber extraction works

NRDCL and Langpa-Nobgang community at loggerheads over the company's timber extraction works

Please login to join discussion

RECOMMENDED NEWS

Bhutan wins six gold medals at Assam taekwondo championship

Bhutan wins six gold medals at Assam taekwondo championship

7 years ago
3

PDP’s new SG

13 years ago
1

Bhutan Democracy Dialogue established

11 years ago
3

Visitors driving their vehicles need to pay Nu 4,500 in addition to SDF: Tourism Rules and Regulations 2022

3 years ago
64

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

  • Accidents (14)
  • Agriculture (426)
  • Announcement (174)
  • Audience Survey Report (1)
  • Business (744)
  • Crime/Legal (367)
  • Culture (47)
  • Development (51)
  • Disaster (57)
  • Economy (278)
  • Education (413)
  • Entertainment (13)
  • Environment (61)
  • Feature (65)
  • Featured (6)
  • Festival (78)
  • GMC (14)
  • Headlines (9)
  • Health (622)
  • Legal (52)
  • Literature (9)
  • Livestock (75)
  • Media (25)
  • Other Stories (5,574)
  • Politics (419)
  • RCSC (1)
  • Recent stories (5)
  • Religion (45)
  • Sci/Tech (709)
  • Social (516)
  • Sports (449)
  • Technology (190)
  • Tourism (19)
  • Uncategorized (13,866)
  • Video (136)
  • Video Story (249)
  • Wildlife (42)

BROWSE BY TOPICS

Tender Announcement Vacancy Announcement

POPULAR NEWS

  • BPC’s investigation rules out transformer short circuit as Damchhu forest fire cause

    Viral video of Bhutanese man assaulted by locals and police in Jaigaon sparks safety concerns

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Gelephu Mindfulness City opens recruitment drive for Bhutanese professionals

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Newspaper accuses DPT candidate of political ploy

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • A centenarian’s recipe to longevity

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 40 companies risk closure over failure to submit financial reports

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
BBSCL

Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) is Bhutan’s primary national broadcaster, delivering diverse news and entertainment in multiple languages, fostering cultural understanding and public knowledge.

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

  • Phuentshogling Thromde installs reverse vending machine to promote recycling
  • Fixed deposit interest to be taxed at 10% under proposed Income Tax Bill
  • Yonphula Specialised Rehabilitation School to open next month
  • RMA to roll out seven new measures for loan repayment support
  • National Housing Strategy to be ready by September

News Category

  • Accidents
  • Agriculture
  • Announcement
  • Audience Survey Report
  • Business
  • Crime/Legal
  • Culture
  • Development
  • Disaster
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Feature
  • Featured
  • Festival
  • GMC
  • Headlines
  • Health
  • Legal
  • Literature
  • Livestock
  • Media
  • Other Stories
  • Politics
  • RCSC
  • Recent stories
  • Religion
  • Sci/Tech
  • Social
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Tourism
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Video Story
  • Wildlife
  • Contact Us
  • About BBS
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2024 BBSCL. All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Education
  • More
    • Announcement
    • Audience Survey Report
    • Programme
    • Radio Dzo-Channel Schedule
    • Radio Mix-Channel Schedule

© 2024 BBSCL. All rights reserved.