Dibrugarh, June 13: From a quiet village in Assam’s Dibrugarh district to plates across India, three friends have transformed their love for traditional smoked meats into a thriving culinary brand.
Manxho — founded by Jitu Bora, Diganta Saikia, and Vardhan Saikia of Khowang — marks five years this week of putting Northeast India’s smoky flavours on the national map.
Launched in 2020 as a modest attempt to preserve and promote their culinary heritage, Manxhohas since grown into a pioneering food brand, shipping ready-to-eat smoked pork and chicken to customers across India.
“In every Assamese kitchen, smoked meats are a part of life — but outside the region, no one knew about them,” said Jitu Bora. “We wanted to change that, without compromising the authenticity.”
The trio’s efforts paid off. In 2022, Manxho was awarded the prestigious Son of the Soil Award by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, recognising their success in marrying indigenous knowledge with food innovation. Their biggest breakthrough: a line of shelf-stable, ready-to-eat smoked meats that require no refrigeration — a first in India’s processed meat sector.
“Now a student in Bangalore or a trekker in Ladakh can enjoy smoked pork the way our grandparents made it — all it takes is hot water,” Bora said.
At the heart of Manxho is a production process that blends tradition and technology. Using age-old smoking methods with local wood varieties, they maintain the authentic flavour while adhering to modern food safety standards. Their model also supports dozens of small farmers across Assam and helps revive nearly forgotten recipes from the region.
“We’re not just selling food — we’re telling the story of our land,” said co-founder Vardhan Saikia. “Each bite carries a piece of our heritage.”
As Manxho celebrates its fifth anniversary on June 14, the team is preparing for a major expansion — from increasing their digital reach to entering supermarket shelves and food delivery platforms.
Their dream? To make Assamese smoked meats as familiar to Indian palates as butter chicken.
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