From Kashi Streets to Global Plates: Banarasi Food Goes International

Varanasi, the cultural and spiritual heart of India, is now preparing to make its mark on the global culinary map. The city’s iconic traditional foods—Banarasi kachori, launglata, tricolour barfi, thandai and Banarasi paan—are set to gain international recognition under the state government’s One District One Cuisine (ODOC) initiative.
The initiative, inspired by the One District One Product (ODOP) model, aims to transform local cuisines into globally recognised brands while ensuring sustainable livelihoods for traditional sweet makers, food artisans and small entrepreneurs. Through structured branding, modern packaging, quality control and marketing support, Banaras’s culinary heritage will be positioned for national and international markets. As part of the programme, Banaras’s signature dishes will be showcased at a special stall during the Uttar Pradesh Day celebrations in Lucknow, offering visitors a taste of the city’s rich food culture. Officials believe this platform will help finalise the district’s cuisine selection under ODOC and introduce the flavours of Kashi to a wider audience. A key focus of the initiative is maintaining authenticity while upgrading standards. Emphasis will be placed on food safety, hygiene, quality certification and compliance with food safety norms. The government also plans to promote GI tagging to protect the originality and cultural identity of Banaras’s traditional recipes. Each dish will carry a product story highlighting its cultural roots, historical background and traditional preparation methods. This approach aims to offer consumers not just a food product, but an experience rooted in Banaras’s heritage. The ODOC initiative is expected to create new economic opportunities for local vendors and artisans, enabling them to expand beyond local markets while preserving age-old culinary traditions. For consumers, it promises access to safe, high-quality traditional flavours that reflect the true essence of Kashi. With this move, Banaras is poised to be recognised not only as a centre of spirituality and culture, but also as a city whose flavours travel from local streets to global plates.
