Baji (food)

Not to be confused with bhajji, a South Asian vegetable fritter similar to a pakora.

Typical Newari Choila, spicy and hot

Baji (Nepal Bhasa: बजि, Nepali: चिउरा , chiura, English: Flattened rice) is a type of beaten rice eaten in Nepal. The most common word for it, and the one visitors to Nepal will generally encounter, is "chiura." "Baji" is the term used by the Newar culture in the Kathmandu Valley. Rice, of course, is a staple in Nepal, as well as the rest of South Asia. The grain is incorporated into everyday life, festivals, and rituals. Chiura is a common snack among farmers and workers in rural Nepal. The snack is made by pounding rice. The dish can be served with yogurt, curry, and or meat. Often chiura is paired with tea as a mid-morning snack in the fields.

Chiura holds an important place in the traditional Nepali wedding ceremony. Chiura is usually included in the brideprice, any valuables or wealth given to the bride’s family by the groom. After the initial wedding ceremony, the families escort the bride back to the groom’s house. During this procession, the pounded rice ceremony occurs. The bride and groom are seated next to one another, and the bride is given the chiura. The groom then formally asks the bride to give him the chiura. He will ask this two more times, each time using a form of “you” that indicates a lowering of her social status. This ceremony reiterates the fact that the woman’s social ranking has dropped far below its original status.

Types

• Red (Nepal Bhasa:ह्यांगु बजि Hyangu Baji): These kinds are prepared by traditional hearthing technology. Instead of processing everything in the mill, the initial phases of milling is done traditionally and then paddy is taken to the mill for further processing. The result is a reddish beaten rice that is crispier than the white one.
• White (Nepal Bhasa: तुयु बजि Tuyu Baji)
• Samaybaji (Nepal Bhasa: समे बजि)

Consumption

It is usually consumed during the daytime with lentil or other vegetables with soup. It is the main food served in Newari feasts. The red type is considered better type. Samaybaji is specially consumed in Newari Festivals.

Liquified baji is also used in Chinese folk medicine as an aphrodisiac.