CHHURPI

Chhurpi is a traditional cheese made in Arunachal Pradesh, Bhutan and Nepal. It is the hardest and longest lasting. But this highly popular traditional cheese made from Yak milk is also making waves as most sought-after animal food especially for dogs and humans too even in other parts of the globe. Chhurpi, are now ready to take on the U.S. and other international markets where the cubes and sticks of hardened milk have found favour as dog chews because of its taste and stiffness.

A  comprehensive study published this year revealed that  from 2017 to 2020, Chhurpi companies’   export sales rose from 15.6% to 40%, which is an average growth rate of about 10% annually. But the pandemic dampened this growth streak as production and movement of goods became hard due to lockdowns. Now that business activities are picking up again, Chhurpi  exporters are looking at Europe, Canada, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia and Japan for expansion. But their main focus remains to be the U.S. market where there’s a large number of pet dogs and people willing to spend on dog food and treats, according to the research company Statista.

Chhurpi is a 100% natural product that is free from gluten, grain, preservatives and artificial flavouring. It contains protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, fat and other minerals like calcium and phosphorus. It is low on fats after undergoing fermentation. Constantly chewing on it can remove a dog’s dental plaque and tartar, and  keep a dog preoccupied for hours. Chhurpi as a premium export product for pet dogs has proven to be good business in the past 10 years, the study said,  so  several big companies are now behind it. One main advantage of chhurpi is that it is vegetarian unlike other dog foods which include raw hides. There are many families in abroad who are vegetarian and hence do not like even the entry of non-veg dog food for their beloved canines.