Guntur Sannam
Encyclopedia
Guntur Sannam or Capsicum Annuum var. Longhum, is one of the most famous types of chillies
and has a huge demand throughout the world. It widely grows in Guntur
, Warangal
, and Khammam
district
s of Andhra Pradesh
in India
.
, culinary supplement or as a vegetable
. Among the spices consumed per head in India, dried chillies contribute a major share.
Chilli was known to Indians about 400 years ago. Globally, India stands first in the production of chilli. The province of Andhra Pradesh
leads in its production, providing 46% of all chilli produced in India. The very fact that ethymologically, the word Guntur Sannam chilli has its origin in Telugu
confirms its Andhra Pradesh origin. The word Sannam stands for thin or long in Telugu.
Foreseeing the potential for chilli production in this region, the government of Andhra Pradesh started a regional research station at LAM near Guntur
, India three decades ago which works on research aspects of chilli as well. Guntur has been associated with chillies for decades, and hence the prefix Guntur for the name of this chilli.
At present, chilli has become one of the most important cash crops and thousands of people directly depend on the cultivation of this spice for their livelihood.
, and more importantly, the strong antecedents arising from Andhra Pradesh
.
. The following are the chief attributes/characteristics of Guntur Sannam chilli:
Guntur Sannam chilli requires a warm and humid climate for its growth and dry weather during its period of maturation. The crop can be grown at altitudes up to 2,100 metres. Black soils with pH 6 to 7 which retain moisture for longer periods are suitable for rainfed crop whereas well drained chalky, deltaic, and sandy loam
y soils are good under irrigated
conditions.
Chili pepper
Chili pepper is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The term in British English and in Australia, New Zealand, India, Malaysia and other Asian countries is just chilli without pepper.Chili peppers originated in the Americas...
and has a huge demand throughout the world. It widely grows in Guntur
Guntur
Guntur , is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, located to the north and west of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately to the south of the national capital, New Delhi and south east of state capital, Hyderabad. Guntur is the fourth largest city in Andhra...
, Warangal
Warangal
Warangal is a city and a municipal corporation in Warangal district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Warangal is located northeast of the state capital of Hyderabad and is the administrative headquarters of Warangal District. This district is a combination of three cities: Warangal,...
, and Khammam
Khammam
Khammam , is the headquarters of the Khammam District in Andhra Pradesh state of India and is located about east of state capital, Hyderabad...
district
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
s of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Origin
Guntur Sannam chilli belongs to the variety Capsicum annum. It is well known as a commercial crop used as a condimentCondiment
A condiment is an edible substance, such as sauce or seasoning, added to food to impart a particular flavor, enhance its flavor, or in some cultures, to complement the dish. Many condiments are available packaged in single-serving sachets , like mustard or ketchup, particularly when supplied with...
, culinary supplement or as a vegetable
Vegetable
The noun vegetable usually means an edible plant or part of a plant other than a sweet fruit or seed. This typically means the leaf, stem, or root of a plant....
. Among the spices consumed per head in India, dried chillies contribute a major share.
Chilli was known to Indians about 400 years ago. Globally, India stands first in the production of chilli. The province of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
leads in its production, providing 46% of all chilli produced in India. The very fact that ethymologically, the word Guntur Sannam chilli has its origin in Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
confirms its Andhra Pradesh origin. The word Sannam stands for thin or long in Telugu.
Foreseeing the potential for chilli production in this region, the government of Andhra Pradesh started a regional research station at LAM near Guntur
Guntur
Guntur , is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, located to the north and west of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately to the south of the national capital, New Delhi and south east of state capital, Hyderabad. Guntur is the fourth largest city in Andhra...
, India three decades ago which works on research aspects of chilli as well. Guntur has been associated with chillies for decades, and hence the prefix Guntur for the name of this chilli.
At present, chilli has become one of the most important cash crops and thousands of people directly depend on the cultivation of this spice for their livelihood.
Etymology
The word Sannam in Telugu means thin or long. The very name of the Guntur Sannam Chilli indicates two facts: the description of the fruitFruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
, and more importantly, the strong antecedents arising from Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
.
Characteristics
Guntur Sannam chilli has got specific characteristics which have enabled it to earn international and national acclaim. Sannam chilli is generally known to trade as a S4 type chilli and is mainly used for its pungency and for the extraction and derivation of capsaicinCapsaicin
Capsaicin 2CHCH=CH4CONHCH2C6H3-4--3- ) is the active component of chili peppers, which are plants belonging to the genus Capsicum. It is an irritant for mammals, including humans, and produces a sensation of burning in any tissue with which it comes into contact...
. The following are the chief attributes/characteristics of Guntur Sannam chilli:
- The Guntur Sannam chilli belongs to Capsicum Annuum var longhumCapsicum annuumCapsicum annuum is a domesticated species of the plant genus Capsicum native to southern North America and northern South America. The three species C. annuum, C. frutescens and C. chinense all evolved from a single common ancestor located somewhere in the northwest Brazil - Colombia area...
variety with long fruits (5 to 15 cms. In length) and diameter range from 0.5 to 1.5 cms. - The chilli has thick skin.
- The skin of crushed chili is thick, red and hot.
- The chilli is hot and pungent with average pungency of 35,000 to 40,000 SHU.
- The chilli is red with ASTA colour value of about 32.11.
- The content of CapsaicinCapsaicinCapsaicin 2CHCH=CH4CONHCH2C6H3-4--3- ) is the active component of chili peppers, which are plants belonging to the genus Capsicum. It is an irritant for mammals, including humans, and produces a sensation of burning in any tissue with which it comes into contact...
is about 0.226%. - This chilli is rich in vitamin CVitamin CVitamin C or L-ascorbic acid or L-ascorbate is an essential nutrient for humans and certain other animal species. In living organisms ascorbate acts as an antioxidant by protecting the body against oxidative stress...
(185 mg/100g) and proteinProteinProteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
(11.98g/100g).
Cultivation
Guntur Sannam has its peak harvesting season from December to May. The annual production of this type is approximately 280,000 tonnes. Guntur Sannam chilli has specific requirements in its means of production for attaining an ideal/optimum level of production. The crops are highly disease prone and need special care and attention to ensure a healthy pest free yield.| Guntur Sannam Factsheet | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Producing Centers | Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Assam | ||
| Harvesting seasons | January To April or December to May | ||
| ASTA Colour Value | 32.11 | ||
| Capsaicin content | 0.226% | ||
| Annual Production | 280,000 Tonnes | ||
Geographical area of production
In the geographical area of Guntur Sannam, chilli is cultivated, processed and made available mainly from Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. It is also grown in neighbouring regions, namely in the districts of Prakasam, Warangal and Khammam.Guntur Sannam chilli requires a warm and humid climate for its growth and dry weather during its period of maturation. The crop can be grown at altitudes up to 2,100 metres. Black soils with pH 6 to 7 which retain moisture for longer periods are suitable for rainfed crop whereas well drained chalky, deltaic, and sandy loam
Loam
Loam is soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration . Loam soils generally contain more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, have better infiltration and drainage than silty soils, and are easier to till than clay soils...
y soils are good under irrigated
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
conditions.
| District & State | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Guntur, Andra Pradesh | 15.55°N To 16.35°N | 79.19° E To 80.36°E |
| Warangal, Andra Pradesh | 17.30°N to 18.18°N | 78.25° E To 80.15°E |
| Prakasam, Andra Pradesh | 14.57°N to 16.17°N | 78.43°E To 80.25°E |
| Khammam, Andra Pradesh | 16.48°N To 18.18°N | 79.30°E To 81.18°E |
Grades of Guntur Sannam
At least 4 grades of Guntur Sannam chillies are known to exist. They are:- Sannam Special (S.S.) - which is light red in colour, shining, with a length of 5 cm and more.
- Sannam General (S.G.) - which is light red in colour, shining skin, with a length of 3 to 5 cms.
- Sannam Fair (S.F.) - which is blackish a dull red in colour with a length of 3 to 5 cms.
- Non Specified (N.S.) - This is not a regular grade and is meant to meet specific requirements of the buyers which are not covered under regular grades.
Comparison with other chillis
Capsaicin values of some of the well-known and accepted varieties of Indian chillis are :-| Chillies | Capsaicin content |
|---|---|
| Guntur Sannam | 0.226% |
| Byadagi (Kaddi) | Negligible |
| Nalchetti (Semi Bird Eye) | 0.12% |
| Kashmiri (Annigira) | NA |
| S9 Mundu | NA |
| Wonderhot | NA |
| Tomato Chilli (Warangal) | NA |
| Madras Pari | 0.206% |