Bikaner's Sun & Air Transform Raw Betel Nuts into 'Marwari Brand' Delicacy

• Bikaner, famous for Bhujia and Rasgullas, is now a hub for betel nut processing, becoming the city's third most consumed food product.
• Raw betel nuts from Assam and Karnataka are sun-dried in Bikaner's dry climate, altering their color, taste, and texture.
• The sun-drying process in Bikaner is believed to change the betel nut's 'warm' nature to a 'cool' one, increasing its demand nationally and internationally as 'Marwari Supari' or 'Bikaneri Supari'.
• Prices range from 700-800 rupees/kg for Assam betel nuts to 1000-1600 rupees/kg for Karnataka varieties, with smooth betel nuts highly sought after for sweet preparations.
• The industry employs 600-700 people in drying, cutting, polishing, and packaging, with a monthly consumption of around 300 tons.