How is Ooty curry made?

VArki is a unique dish made in Ooty, Tamil Nadu. It is a type of biscuit which has a crisp and crunchy texture. These varkis are believed to be the Indian version of a British biscuit or even a French pastry. Its origins can be traced back to the late 1800s.

While its exact origins remain a mystery, it is believed that the biscuit was popular among the British and Indian elite during the colonial era. Another common belief among locals is that these biscuits could have been made as a snack for Indian laborers in the coffee plantations and tea gardens run by the British colonialists.

Manufacturers of these workers in the district are insisting on a Geographical Indication tag to deter counterfeiters from the plains, who are enjoying the tag of varki. An application has already been filed by the industry body in 2015, but approval is awaited. Bakers say the district’s climate and its pure, sweet water set Ooty Varki apart from its counterparts in other districts.