• Byadagi chilli is a chilli variety mainly grown in Karnataka.
• It is named after Byadgi town, Haveri district.
• Also written as Bedgi in some markets.
• It is one of the important commercial chilli varieties of India.
• GI Tag: February 2011
• GI Tag No.: 129
• Main speciality:
  • Deep red colour
  • Less pungent
  • Distinct flavour and taste
• It has negligible capsaicin content, making it less spicy than many other chilli varieties.

Types of Byadagi Chilli

• Dabbi
  • Small and plump.
  • More popular for colour, flavour and taste.
  • Has more seeds but is less spicy than Kaddi.
  • Best suited for masala preparation and oleoresin extraction.
• Kaddi
  • Thin, long and gnarled.
  • Has fewer seeds.
  • More pungent compared with Dabbi.

Important Characteristics

• Flowering begins about 40 days after transplanting.
• Most flowers appear during 60–80 days after transplanting.
• Pods are generally harvested from January to May.
• ASTA colour value: 156.9
• Higher ASTA value indicates better red colour quality and generally higher price.

Uses

• Widely used in South Indian cuisine.
• Important ingredient in:
  • Bisi Bele Bath
  • Sambar
  • Chutneys
  • Masala preparations
  • Meat preparations
• Used in Udupi cuisine.
• Its bright red colour is particularly useful in food preparations.

Oleoresin

• Byadagi chilli is an important source of red oleoresin.
• Oleoresin is used in:
  • Nail polish
  • Lipstick
• About 50 litres of oleoresin can be extracted from 1 tonne of Byadagi chillies.
• Cold storage at 4–6°C helps maintain colour and purity.
• Cold storage can increase oleoresin extraction by about 30–40%.
• Oleoresin is further refined in Kerala and exported to countries including the USA, Japan and European countries.

Trade & Market

• Major market: Byadagi APMC chilli market.
• Annual market sales are reported at around ₹30 billion.
• Traders come from Karnataka and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
• Important advantages of the market include:
  • Fair price
  • Immediate payment
  • Accurate weighing

⭐ Exam Quick Revision

• Byadagi → Haveri, Karnataka
• GI Tag → 2011
• GI No. → 129
• Colour → Deep red
• Pungency → Low
• Types → Dabbi & Kaddi
• Dabbi → Small, plump, more colour/flavour
• Kaddi → Long, thin, gnarled
• ASTA colour value → 156.9
• Oleoresin → Nail polish & lipstick
• Harvesting → January–May