South 24 Parganas, West Bengal

Sundarban Boria (Dried Fish / Shutki)

Sundarban boria is the district's dried fish: around 85 species of small and mid-sized fish plus shrimp - including Rupchanda, Laitya, Chhuri and Khalisa - caught from the Bay of Bengal and Sundarbans rivers and dried in the sun on the tidal banks of the Sundarbans blocks. Dried fish (shutki) is emblematic to Bengali cuisine, and the Indian Sundarbans supply dried fish both for West Bengal and for export to Bangladesh. The drying practice is centuries old and is now the subject of conservation research on climate-resilient fishery livelihoods. Buyers pick species by dish - Rupchanda and Laitya for roush, Chhuri for bhorta - and should check for an evenly dried, mould-free surface with a strong clean aroma.

Typical price: ₹100-500 per kg (varies by species)

Buying tip: Choose the species for your recipe (Rupchanda/Laitya for roush, Chhuri for bhorta) and inspect for even drying and no mould; smaller sizes are cheaper and cook faster.