According to Akbar Allahabadi, a well-known poet from Prayagraj, the guava of Allahabad is a divine fruit with its genuine home in the country of God. It would seem that his remarks carry a lot of weight because Allahabad Surkha Guava is frequently referred to as a heavenly treat by all who have had the pleasure of eating it over the years.
Food, clothing, and fruits are all geographically distinct. Andhra is known for its Banganapalle Mangoes, Nagpur is known for its santras (oranges), and Allahabad is known for its abundant and lush variety of "Amruds" or guavas. Due to this, Allahabad is frequently referred to as "The City of Green Gold". Pectin, vitamins C and A, folic acid, and many other nutrients are abundant in this fruit.
What Makes Prayagraj Surkha Special?
Guavas grown in other regions of India are not similar to the apple-shaped "Allahabad surkha," as it is commonly called. Instead of the usual white colour, this boasts a delicious, succulent deep pink interior; therefore, the name "surkha" (meaning red).
The day starts at five in the morning for the surrounding vendors who travel to their orchards to get the fruits. The brilliant colours and patterns of the bags these guavas are packaged add to the market's excitement and aroma. Within an hour, the guavas find their buyers and are doing brisk business.
It doesn’t just end here, when the train arrives at Allahabad Junction, the passengers rush to the stalls to indulge in the unmatched richness of the Allahabad guavas' flavour rather than buying tea and water. While moving from one station to another, the majority of sellers lure the weary travellers with the aroma of Allahabad guavas in their baskets.
The soil in which the Allahabad guava is grown in the Kaushambi district is one of the reasons it is so wonderful. In Doaba, the neighbourhood of Allahabad's undivided Kaushambi district, guava is grown on an area of roughly 300 hectares. Here, the government has designated Muratganj and Chail Block as fruit boards. 75% of the horticulture practised in the district is concentrated in just these two blocks. Every day throughout the season, about 50 tonnes of fruits are shipped to the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and others.
Despite the recent name change to Prayagraj, the popularity of Allahabad guava hasn't changed over the years. In addition to the surkha, the safeda, narma, and patta kinds of Allahabad guava each have their own unique features.
Due to its delicious flavour and pleasant aroma, Allahabad Surkha Guava was awarded the Geographical Indication Tag (GI) in 2007–2008 and continues to be a favourite among people.