How Makhana is Made: From Bihar’s Ponds to Your Bowl

How Makhana is Made: From Bihar’s Ponds to Your Bowl

Before it reaches your bowl, every makhana travels a remarkable road. Here is how makhana is made – from the ponds of Bihar to the sealed pack at your door.

Where makhana grows

Over 85% of the world’s makhana comes from the shallow ponds and wetlands of north Bihar – Darbhanga, Madhubani, Purnia. The prickly water lily (Euryale ferox) drops its seeds into the pond bed, where they mature underwater.

The underwater harvest

Skilled farmers dive with baskets, sweeping the pond floor by hand to collect the hard black seeds – physically demanding work done largely the same way for generations.

Drying, heating, popping

The seeds are washed, sun-dried, then roasted in hot pans. A precise strike cracks the shell and the kernel bursts into the white puff we call makhana – think popcorn, but requiring far more skill.

Popped white makhana from Bihar - KUSU by SAHGI Foods
Popped white makhana from Bihar – KUSU by SAHGI Foods

Sorting and grading

Pops are sorted by size and colour. The biggest, whitest pops become 5+ and Supreme grades; smaller ones go to standard packs. Hand-sorting removes broken and discoloured pieces.

Cleaning and packing

At SAHGI Foods we source graded makhana directly, then pack in sealed, resealable pouches – no fumigation shortcuts, no months in open gunny bags. That is why KUSU makhana smells neutral and snaps clean.

Why origin matters

Makhana that sits in humid godowns turns chewy and dull. Short, direct supply chains preserve crunch – one more reason to buy from a brand that names its source. Curious about the nutrition this process preserves? See the full breakdown.

From Bihar’s ponds, sorted by hand, sealed fresh.

Shop Raw Makhana

Frequently Asked Questions

Is makhana the same as lotus seed?

Commonly called lotus seed, it is technically the seed of Euryale ferox, a water lily – the name stuck.

Why is makhana expensive?

Diving harvests, hand-popping and strict grading are labour-intensive; only part of each harvest makes premium grade.

Is makhana GI-tagged?

Yes – Mithila Makhana received a GI tag in 2022, recognising Bihar’s unique produce.