Why Fox Nuts (Water Lily Seeds) Are So Expensive | So Expensive Food | Business Insider

Once popped, water lily seeds look just like popcorn. But a bag of these seeds, also known as fox nuts, will cost you much more: over $170 per kilogram. Farmers in India work tirelessly for over four days, partially submerged in 4-foot-deep water, kneeling in the scorching sun, and roasting the seeds in blazing-hot woks. Even when everything is done just right, there is no guarantee that a seed will actually pop. So are water lily seeds worth it? And why are they so expensive?
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Why Fox Nuts (Water Lily Seeds) Are So Expensive | So Expensive Food | Business Insider

[@bogdanganciulescu7671]

Funny how the explanation for the high price is that the work is hard and involves risks, but the workers are still poor and receive no money

[@tuckerbugeater]

There's only so much blood you squeeze from a rock

[@ecoideazventures6417]

That's the harsh reality of life - product creator doesnt enjoy the benefit, but the trader does!

[@didacus199]

It is not the actual explanation, it costs a lot of money not because farming is risky and hard, but because those factors mean that that the farming capacity of those seeds is very limited. It isn't costly in fact because of the farmers, who aren't paid much anyway, but because of the small supply chain

[@JohnDoe-uc5iu]

@@didacus199 so thats actually NOT the answer, you seem like youre pretty ignorant to the way capital works. maybe you should inform yourself

[@floraserrao3318]

Same like the fashion industry

[@paulson2008]

Per kg of fox nuts cost around Rs.1500 ( $19) but the traders really upscale their margins. So it's sad these kind of exuberant prices never reach down low to the farmers.

[@N0Xa880iUL]

Crazy

[@trygveevensen171]

What I don't understand is how they remain poor even though they're harvesting 20kg each in a day. That's $380 per day? Shouldn't that be a lot in a country like India? They're not harvesting year round, but still Nevermind, they get ¢30, what a joke

[@FallenActual]

Yeah the farmers need to find different jobs of the world wants fox nuts that bad they'll pay more

[@shouravsts]

Its 5$ here for i kg

[@FallenActual]

@@shouravsts huh I'll have to look for em here

[@rakchong]

We in Manipur, Northeast India have esten this seed raw for ages. We never roast or pop the seeds and we also love the seed cover. It is a special delicacy in monsoon season and everyone loves adding the raw seeds in most local dishes.

[@mexicanmomo]

try this also .

[@famousrounder14]

And also not expensive.,we usually get it at rupees 20 to 30 of one whole.

[@ijaan108]

Wow.... raw huh

[@rakchong]

@@ijaan108 yes and we harvest it in its fruit form not seed form. The big full of thorn fruit has its own art of harvesting. If u go to any market of Manipur this time of the year u will find the fully thorned fruit being sold everywhere.

[@infiniteindianexplorer6778]

@@rakchong Many of the valuable food items are very economic in manipur my friend. A highly great place Manipur is. Am happy i had been there for 3 days.

[@arche6188]

I like how he calls the person roasting the seeds as Kalakar (Artist) , it's nothing less than an art doing these as this scale.

[@w0omer]

Can we just take a second to appreciate how much work these workers put in?

[@gai6320]

no

[@jaeboogie2786]

May God bless and help them.

[@thew1288]

@@gai6320 anime pfp

[@theewildrose]

that's what we were already doing....

[@LaNoir.]

@@gai6320 As cynical as this sounds, I agree: no I refuse to appreciate human slavery contracts so we have some cool food to chew. Those people deserve better, not being appreciated.

[@cryptoth4n0s77]

The person who discovered this popcorn is the real foodie. Indians never cease to WOW me

[@tejpratapsinghrathore8166]

What do you mean Mr 😕

[@futurepm2866]

It was discovered in india in thousands of year ago

[@justmeonthebeach]

I'm actually wondering... if it taste like popcorn??!

[@execute2626]

@@justmeonthebeach much better then popcorn... And very fluffy

[@justmeonthebeach]

@@execute2626 Wow. Thanks. I have never seen it for real nor tried it. 😄

[@pukhrambamroll96sectionc60]

I am from Manipur (India). Fox nut is called Thaangjing in Manipuri. We eat raw fruit by making paste with fermented fish and chillies. It's one of the most popular food in Manipur.

[@abhishekanand1229]

I will love to try that dish

[@nasha21]

@@abhishekanand1229 0l

[@1349aegis]

tasty. im coming to you house to try this

[@goldeygaming2288]

Direct buyer can u supply

[@ytmndleaks1598]

here in Manipur it is staple diet of Christian community, we make fok nuts with beef 🐂🥩 stew.

[@EmilyJelassi]

I love popped water lily seeds! I had no idea how difficult it was to grow and bring them to market.. makes me appreciate them even more!

[@pakalupapito9161]

Come I will feed you daily

[@gauravjha4542]

I am from this place Darbhanga, where these fox nuts are grown. It recently got GI Tag as 'Mithila Makhana'. Makhana was a thing we gifted on ocassions like marriage and wasnt popular outside until recently. Great to see its gaining popularity now and has the potential to employ locally, reducing labour migration.

[@mylesbishop1240]

Was that where Bhang originated from. Id love to try that

[@bhaskarsingh1959]

These are farmed also in Katihar and whole of Koshi Pramandal Per mythology its believed that for Paan(Betel Nut) ,Makkhan(Fox nut) and Madhu (Honey) even Gods have to visit earth 🌍.These don't exist even in heaven .

[@gauravjha4542]

@@bhaskarsingh1959 Yes, whole of Mithila and Kosi has favourable climate and abundance of water bodies for fox nut. But it’s Darbhanga that is ubiquitous with fox nuts, because of the bulk of production and also Makhana Research Institute is located there.

[@ackshayshukla]

@@mylesbishop1240 that's Varanasi (old name "Kaashi", Anglican name "Benaras"). There you get bhang on govt. approved shops throughout the city.

[@gauravjha4542]

@@smritithakur9164 Now that we know it’s an expensive ‘nut’ like any other, with a lot of tribulation from harvest to its popping, spread the word about this healthy snack. 😀

[@KamisKisses]

This may be idealistic but I think there should be a mandatory base amount for the farmer's work. An amount that is equal to a living wage.

[@impossible9599]

@@YuruCampSupermacy MSP exists for all the essential crops needed for survival. Yes people don't need to eat foxnuts to survive, hence no msp

[@nobodyspecial4702]

How would you determine what a living wage would be for the harvesters who work 2 days of the year for this product, or the ones working who do the heating of it over the course of a couple days? Between the two groups, that's a whopping one week of work to produce this crop so what are they doing the other 51 weeks out of the year that they aren't working?

[@deepu4855]

There Is No Base Amount System In India

[@Watusifarm]

That idea doesn’t work. Cutting out middle men is what will make the farmers more money

[@SunitaSingh-vs6gh]

@@deepu4855 padhai kar hai

[@itsjustbrandy4290]

I would love to know who figured this out. Who was the first person to pull up a seed, dry it, roast it, then pop it open? Amazing! Also, it's bs that the people working the hardest get the least amount of money.

[@futurepm2866]

This pop is cultivated from thousands of year

[@shubhampahurkar00]

That reminds me of the Joke that what was the guy trying to do doing when milk was invented

[@itsjustbrandy4290]

@@shubhampahurkar00 lmfao!!

[@eddym5532]

When we are hungry we find a way.

[@reenaparashar4379]

@@shubhampahurkar00 milk was never invented

[@infinite5795]

Kudos to Business Insider for this story of Fox nut cultivation, I honestly never knew about its origins although, it is highly prized among Hindus and we frequently gift it and eat it during fasts, marriages and pregnancies, we honestly never bothered to learn it's nutritional significance. It is generally used as fast breaker and low-calorie food in Hinduism and is considered the earthly gift and favorite of Mother Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. So, we eat them during partial fasting, as prescribed by ancient Hindu medicine aka Ayurveda. In Odia culture, it is believed that lord Vishnu had to live on Makwana when Sri Lakshmi left him for 12 years, which symbolizes her eternal love for her husband but not the extent of trampling one's dignity. I would rather love to buy them wholesome from these hard toiling men of my country, rather than the greedy bloodsucking middle men herein.

[@tylerchamploo1518]

Very interesting, thank you for sharing!

[@kanakraj3198]

Same

[@johnnoronha3757]

Thank you 🙏 for that insight into the religious connection. We have such interesting connections but are not aware of them. Great information... 👍

[@jatin2866]

His*

[@gisqarni3366]

Oh mr in bihar every one eat. Its called (makhana) bihar dry fruits and every religion eat specialy in muslim too. I dont knnow what kind of story you are selling

[@nahush23]

I consume fox nut almost everyday as a snack and sometimes my mom makes a sweet soup (kheer) out of it for me. I never knew it takes so much effort and hardwork to grow and process. Undoubtedly the farmer of India is underappreciated, now whenever I will consume fox nut I will pray for the better future and wellbeing of the people who make sure we get to eat such a incredible food item which is very good for weight loss, is good for people with diabetes and many more benefits. Thank you Business Inside and please keep making more such short documentaries, especially from India.

[@hello-xf5ow]

Me too I also eat makhana a lot

[@shairara4040]

Praying isn’t going to make anyone’s lives better

[@nahush23]

@@shairara4040 okay so lets eat more makhana or what bright ideas do you have please enlighten us.

[@khristiec6863]

@@shairara4040 all they can do is pray anyway. Because they definitely cannot give them more money or help them. Because that money will never reach the workers. The middle men and traders are at fault. They take more than half of the earnings.

[@rashmichettri110]

❤

[@RyanEglitis]

This is like finding out your bag of popcorn was picked one kernel at a time.

[@abc_cba]

I seriously had no idea that it takes this much hardwork for people in my country to make it available for us as a snack we don't know the backstory of !

[@drpriyeshgupta]

I don’t have anything profound to say but I marvelled at the quality of the video and also the way of putting across the message through this medium so effectively that it moved me emotionally, and made me aware of the privileged life I live. When the farmer said that because they receive less money for their work, they tend to drink cheap alcohol and not able to eat healthy food, I am now more aware of their reality when I, as a doctor, attend to patients of low socioeconomic status and with history of alcohol intake with subsequent liver failure, these are many of these factors makes them helpless. As a healthcare provider, we can guide them and teach them ways to stay healthy and abstinence from alcohol consumption but sadly, cannot remove these hurdles completely. Maybe we can and with time, we will. Hopeful. Patience and perseverance.

[@mr.heisenberg2870]

It's so sad to see the poor state of workers even though the crop itself has had a major boom in past 5 years all around the globe. They should form a union to avoid such extreme margins from traders. The efforts that it requires genuinely make it seem an underpriced commodity rather than an expensive one, if Japanese cultivated these then it would've retailed as 700$/kg.

[@bulletmelter5158]

The difficulty of creating a union depends on what country you live in.

[@zennydoo]

@Rich Cran could you please explain what this means?

[@judelexel1234]

@@zennydoo i think he means russian flag = communist.

[@kidnamedfinger653]

Never expected you to be on this video

[@tuckerbugeater]

@@zennydoo cultivation of the human failure

[@stephenhawking3840]

I have huge respect for these workers. They are very skilled. Whenever I will eat fox nuts in the future, I should appreciate the hard work of these people. Mosy of these people are doing voluntary services. We should acknowledge their efforts. Every person is concerned the hardness in their own life but we need to see after doing such hard work they are receiving the money. I am grateful to India.

[@shinytan]

Thanks sir, thanks to the Internet, now we can understand what folks go through in order to provide healthy snacks for our breakfast table

[@mygoalismylife7990]

This is really a beautiful comment i really appreciate 😊

[@ajlouis6038]

I recently tried this for the first time and found it was really good. I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't tried it.

[@numberoneappgames]

The processing is insane. I wouldn't be surprised if an engineer could help them stream their operation. :D

[@AdamBechtol]

Agreed, that's mostly all I can think about when I watch these videos. Ways to improve the process, efficiency as well as machinery to alleviate labor.

[@tuckerbugeater]

@@AdamBechtol but then they'll be replaced by machines. Communism is the only solution.

[@nobodyspecial4702]

@@AdamBechtol Machinery is expensive. Peasant labor is cheap in India. They'll replace them with machinery when they stop making more babies.

[@CD-kg9by]

No need for more machines if there are so many people needing work. They can't pay and maintain those anyway. You could already improve the process with a few basic tools and materials. Just look at how they throw everything on the dirty floor again and again. "Now they clean the nuts with this sieving machine, powered by a 60yo motor engine. After sieving, the nuts are thrown on the same dirty floor again, where they get remixed with the stuff that just got sieved out."

[@prshntkumar0000]

@@nobodyspecial4702 this is pure artisan work, machines will help but don't provide any benefit, only helps capitalists.

[@N0Xa880iUL]

Thank you for this video. We need more such videos from India. The middle class of India takes these things for granted.

[@Master-baiter2]

I’m pretty sure everyone realises the benefits of makkana, maybe we just don’t want it all exported and the price to sky rocket.

[@rishabhs4956]

Middle class does not get to eat foxnut / makhana on a daily basis...only once in a blue moon.

[@ashishjaiswal7888]

Middle class can afford foxnut? That isn't foxnut

[@N0Xa880iUL]

Guys middle class has a big range. Also depends if you live in a rural or urban area. Just the monetary figures don't tell the whole story.

[@rose10822]

@@rishabhs4956 In bihar it's cheap and we eat it everyday

[@dharwit]

Won't look at foxnuts the same way again. Thank you for adding a layer of story to my favorite snack.

[@anamquazi7181]

I did not know it was such a hard process. I love makhana so much, I eat it every day. I would like to thank the workers for their hard work, it makes me sad that they don't get the money they deserve 😔

[@maya-cc2sx]

This is why bihar government has decided to critically focus on food processing and is looking for investors in the area, there's so much potential to be tapped into and the state is already the fastest growing economy (owing to not having yet hit the peak other states have). I wish I could do something too but I'm just a student rn.

[@dharwit]

It's sad how little we pay our farmers for all their hardwork. Again the story of people at the top profiting by underpaying the ones who do all the dirty work.

[@aayushiverma2385]

I was just eating makhana last week and this video came on my feed. I was really surprised to know that it came from water lily seeds and the amount of work that goes into producing makhana

[@rajnandani4378]

I ate it yesterday, and I'm so amused to know about this.

[@chaos32285]

2:03He actually said something similar but different from the subtitles and it's more heartbreaking he said " it's hard but what can a poor person do. If he doesn't earn how would he eat "

[@azeenapamei8332]

Its called *Thangjing* in Manipur. Its a delicacy here too. We'd peel off the spiky peel and boil it. Some prefer it raw just like that. Mash it together with king chilly and dried fish. Then we'd garnish it with fresh cilantro. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@thedarkknight1865]

good to know

[@ytmndleaks1598]

@@thedarkknight1865 get lost sanghi sanki.

[@saadishtiaq1661]

I wonder who saw water lilies one day and said "I bet these prickly bastards are hiding something delicious- I'm gonna roast and pop the hell out of them to find out".

[@devyaniambastha235]

This fox nuts or makhana was originally grown only in mithalanchal area of bihar. Back in our childhood it was not monetized. Now when research was done and was declared as super foods then many players across India jumped in business. It's price increased after exports started and govt and international bodies set research projects on makhana. Now all the good quality makhana are exported only the rest is sold in domestic markets. People from other states have also started harvesting it in their farmlands for economic purposes. Mithila Makhana came a long way.

[@amitsharda8198]

Wow

[@abhijeetkumar2204]

I am also from Bihar. My relatives from Darbhanga use to bring makana regularly. We can eat them by roasting or by making Kheer.

[@thecodeshala]

खड़ना के खीर एकरा बिना बस छठी मैया के प्रसाद है😊

[@williamz4561]

In China people call it chain'sh 芡实, or 鸡头米chicken head. People steam it rather than bake it. You can get it easily from Taobao, and price is about $12-20 per kg.

[@btaleonard02]

I recall seeing them in soup, be it savory or sweet.

[@hkpfalldie]

原來是芡實，但通常都無pop

[@danielblue4460]

China sells it cheap because of machinery. Better technology, lesser manpower.

[@06madhav]

I come from the place that grows Makhanas the most- Darbhanga in Bihar(India). Apart from all other things what shocked me is the price at which it is sold in the international market. We buy in the local market at $ 7 a kg which becomes $ 15/kg in big cities in India but becomes a whopping $ 170/kg when exported!

[@indranilDey227]

Yup you are right bro

[@jayantsingh3078]

Ye mat likhiye har jagah nhi toh Hani hamara hi hoga niryaat mai...

[@KB-sz9lu]

not really ! in USA i buy around $18-$20 per kg here in indian stores

[@aman.vashisht]

Exotic things are expensive. Subway is expensive than Indian meal in India. But in US Indian meal is expensive

[@Kathakathan11]

@@aman.vashisht subway 😂😂😂😂

[@AbdullahQasimCalligraphy]

Here in Pakistan the price is 2400 pkr / kg... means 10$/kg.... Thanks to our hard working Indian neighbors.... best for breakfast with milk and honey

[@BJha-bc2li]

Your most welcome 🤗 You can also use this for making payesh ( kheer ) or even in Sabzi . We Maithils use this in many of our dishes.

[@AbdullahQasimCalligraphy]

@@BJha-bc2li Yes indeed. I have seen the recipes. What an amazing super food it is

[@keyurd.6315]

i suppose its cheap in India/Pakistan because it is produced within this continent, but when it reaches America/Europe, price rises due to transportation costs and various other taxes (not just trader's commision)...

[@BJha-bc2li]

@@keyurd.6315 Seriously? You think 600-800 rs per kg is cheap ? No it isn't further even at our place where it's produced , during Durga Puja and all price rise to 1200 per kg.

[@AbdullahQasimCalligraphy]

@@BJha-bc2li cheap for them because they count in dollars. The price mentioned in the video for western countries is wayyyyyy higher bro

[@thunkwaltz5571]

Thanks for covering this. It's really complex process. Needs more recognition and a lot of reforms in production

[@leleprtk]

There’s always people being exploited, it feels so unfair and it’s so upsetting :(

[@sunnyishu]

In Kathmandu, Nepal, it has been used in locally made alcohol since ancient times in Newari community. They will put like 4 or 5 of the nuts in the bottle. And also in snack that is given to brother during Tihar festival.

[@ackshayshukla]

How to ask for it in liquor store?

[@brownerjerry174]

What does it taste like?

[@rjraj01]

I like your research team. These processes are happening near me still I was unaware of them. Big clap for business Insider team.

[@sreeradhaseth176]

In India, fox nuts (makhana) are actually quite cheap. We Indians fry them in clarified butter (ghee) or boil them in milk and consume them. It's a staple diet for many people during festivals like Navaratri. 1kg costs around Rs. 650 ($7.90)

[@AtharvaAgarwal]

Yes

[@FreezeDidThis]

way cheaper in bihar

[@AbhishekKumar-vx9ub]

at 9:37 , the subtitle says "person", whereas the dude said "artist". At 10:55 , he explains why he considers this artistry. They are not just underpaid workers, but underpaid artists too.

[@amitavamozumder73]

i have been eating these for years, never have i ever thought there's so much freaking effort behind them. i'll think about these everytime i try one from now on.

[@saurabhrajveersharma8729]

हमारे धरतीपुत्रों को नमन... Love from Bihar 😍

[@Master-baiter2]

When ever I go to India, like I am now, I always eat these every day. They are so good and have a unique crunch that’s much different than popcorn

[@KNYD]

WHO CAME UP WITH THIS METHOD? I get collecting random seeds and trying to eat them, that's basically what every animal does, but this is such a complex method to have been accidentally discovered. Did someone find random seeds, dry them just the perfect amount then roast them lightly in a clay pot for 20h, then let them rest for 15h, and then roast them again in six different cast iron pots with varying temperatures and then in the end hit them in order to get them to pop. How did this come about?

[@j1407bmoon]

We'll never know who discovered it because we've been eating these for thousands of years in India.

[@saru3454]

During my childhood days I used to always wonder where did makhana came from. Thanks insiders and thank you to the farmers and other workers for their hardwork, I hope government does take measures to help the farmers and the people helping it.

[@rameshchandragupta2122]

Living in city, seeing so much greenery is like a blessing to my eyes.

[@Nocmora]

as someone from the greenest city in my country (90% of our land is filled with parks and forests) i can say that no amount of beauty is worth the amount of bugs and other nasty creatures that come out of that kind of greenery 🥲

[@GreatSageSunWukong]

@Mahima Bhat thats interesting I live in a large european city which is increasingly building skyscrapers everywhere, they start in a small area and spread out to more, I hate them I have often thought that the climate is different amongst those tall buildings, windy, dry and hotter then the surrounding low areas of the city.

[@AS-jo8qh]

@@Nocmora where are you from?

[@Nocmora]

@@AS-jo8qh i'm from the southwest part of russia

[@sanghipranit]

My mom is a religious lady she told me about mkhana about how they were so cheap back in her days as it was only used during a celebration or puja. But today we buy it for 900 to 1200 per kg and use it as snacks as well. Now I know how hard it is to cultivate mkhana amd appreciate these humble workers more. Just makes you wonder about the less you know the less you value it. That's why we have to be ready to know more and never degrade anyone or anything according to their circumstances.

[@willn8664]

The one thing I notice is Business Insider NEVER goes after the higher uppers and interviews them. Never asks them why they won't raise the wages for the farmers and other low end workers. Either Business Insider doesn't have the backbone or the corporations have this channel in their pockets.

[@nusocial6910]

There is not much margin here, the guy who own this business doesn't make a big profit here. Part of the problem is that even the owner is not very educated, he may not have the best negotiation strategies...

[@ankurchaudhary3515]

@@nusocial6910 actually it’s not plaintext black & white . It’s more to do with Indian Govt socialist woes where farmers need to sell their crops to nearby Govt afflicted market and the traders monopolised the mid level supply chain.

[@nusocial6910]

@@ankurchaudhary3515 Govt wanted to change that, there was a big farmer's protest in Delhi, and it not leftover socialism, it is left over colonization were these were to be exported to Britain at lowest margin possible... for the profit of Britain at the expense of Femine and 4 million deaths in India...

[@svanimation8969]

@@nusocial6910 yeah !

[@ytmndleaks1598]

typical andhbhakt sanghi blaming business insider, as uasual you cant ask feku mudi ji these questiins.

[@sibimathen1451]

Its so heartbreaking to see farmers toil all day to make measly sum of money, while consumers pay probably 50 to 100 times more. This is true about every crop, be it foxnut, coffee etc etc. Somewhere something has to change. Else the writing is on the wall....

[@s.vraman6009]

Its because workers are exploited day and night and the rich makes money by selling it.

[@prakashchandrathakur1184]

My favourite recipe of Makhana (Foxnuts) is to make Makhana ka kheer. I also like to toast them in ghee or butter with salt & spices. Both taste delicious.

[@rajgoyal108]

Same here, kheer, roasted makhana as well as makhana paneer Sabji are too delicious.

[@adriennefloreen]

I had that in Berkeley California in 2007, if anyone is near San Francisco there's all kinds of Indian grocery stores and restaurants on University Ave in Berkeley which is like a half hour drive from San Francisco. It's amazing, I definitely recommend stoping there.

[@BJha-bc2li]

@@rajgoyal108 It's something which is identity for the people of Mithila bcs 95% of world's foxnut is produced at our place . Never heard of Makhan paneer though we use Makhan in Payesh ( kheer ) , Misti Makhan , Namkeen Makhan , Makhan Tarkari ( gravy ) .

[@jazminruffafederova218]

the sad reality in India, politicians and businessmen get richer evety second while most of their citizens getting poorer and poorer...

[@dspsblyuth]

I don’t care I just want cheap Fox nuts .

[@jagrutitiwari2551]

This was highly informative video. Thank you for bringing a social problem (underpaid workers) as well as the harvesting process to light.

[@captainroast5889]

Makhan is widely popular in Nepal for Tihar... I always thought it was made from corn, this is way more complicated to harvest that I used to think while munching on them. I like to put 5, 6 of these seeds in my tea, so at the end I can get a well soaked and delicious makhan snacks after I finish my tea. My mum also makes porridge from makhana, milk, sugar, and dried fruits. Very versatile food that can go well with hot, cold, sweet, savory food, or on itself.

[@itsbonkerjojo9028]

Makhna * dude

[@ytmndleaks1598]

@@itsbonkerjojo9028 its called makkha in Africa, and it is grown all over North Africa, it is famous in african communities

[@itsbonkerjojo9028]

@@ytmndleaks1598 oh ok glad to learn . I was just correcting the op regarding makhna cauz makhan is entirely a different product 😄

[@ytmndleaks1598]

@@itsbonkerjojo9028 ohh here in kenya we call fox nut or makha, very tasty, we even it the outside skin for fish paste, fifi and makha is too good.

[@samarpatel6344]

@@itsbonkerjojo9028 It is called Makhaan in Mithila, the place where it is grown. The thing that you're thinking of is called Makhkhan

[@arjuniyer5610]

Really like this channel, the way the cover every news in so much details. Me being from Indian I get more information about my country from this channel than any of my own country's news

[@shanewatson758]

Because you're way too busy looking at wrong places. If you look closely everything is available. So, the onus is on you. FYI, there have been many YT videos and even documentary before made in India about it. You can look it up

[@YokoFuongAnh]

It's sad that most profit of he water lily seeds doesn't go to the farmers who do the hard work but the manufacturer. They are super expensive but the farmers are extremely poor. 🤨

[@tuckerbugeater]

should they raise prices or take more money from the distributors?

[@nobodyspecial4702]

These farmers are only working 2 days a year. How much profit should they earn from that?

[@JohnDoe-uc5iu]

@@nobodyspecial4702 yikes........

[@crenfick7750]

@@nobodyspecial4702 They should make close to what the seeds are worth, without so much skimming of value by those far richer than them.

[@nobodyspecial4702]

@@crenfick7750 You clearly don't understand how economics work. The farmers do a job with a guaranteed pay out. The middle men take over from there and assume the expense of turning the seeds into something more valuable, and take the loss for all the seeds that are wasted. In addition, they cover the cost to ship those seeds to the markets, where they also are subject to loss in shipping and spoilage. Then the consumer purchases them at a price they are willing to pay. The farmers are doing the least amount of work and taking the least risk in the chain, meaning they get paid the least for it. If the farmers were to assume the role of the middle men, they would be able to make more, but since they do the least amount of work of all with no financial risk themselves, they make the least.

[@chronos5882]

Love that a lot of these "this is why it's expensive" boils down to a lot of people are doing hard labour and sometimes life threatening but they don’t get payed much even though their hard work is the reason why it's expensive

[@PackOfWolves]

I didn't know makhana needed so much processing, and was so difficult to grow... I assumed it would be as easy as popcorn!

[@rajgoyal108]

Sad to see these hard workers aren't getting their due. Btw foxnut aka makhana in Hindi is very delicious when made into a curry along with cottage cheese or paneer. Also the kheer made from foxnut tastes like heaven.

[@tuckerbugeater]

why should we pay people more money to produce things that aren't in demand?

[@nobodyspecial4702]

They work hard...for only 2 days a year.

[@ryanroshan2732]

@@tuckerbugeater lol these are in demand... and sometimes it is about the culture...

[@rajgoyal108]

@@tuckerbugeater who asked you? I am asking to fellow Indians that the foxnut producers should get more money. And for your kind information it's a super food just like India's own jackfruit.

[@rajgoyal108]

@@nobodyspecial4702 that's because it's a seasonal seed, but they do work really hard to produce the nut.

[@eshaansharma280]

Really ? These are cheap here (12-15usd per kilogram). It’s a healthy snack mainly consumed due to calcium content.

[@richa6045]

Yeah

[@N0Xa880iUL]

The first time I saw something on this series that I identified.

[@eshaansharma280]

@@N0Xa880iUL yes 🙌

[@blazingguyop]

Cheap🤣then your are rich

[@N0Xa880iUL]

​@@blazingguyop Oh god you're gonna start a debate.

[@himshaky]

We started having it only a few years back. I know people make curries and sweet porridge. But all we do it put it in air fryer for 10 minutes and have it like popcorn....makes a great oil free snack.

[@iamvengeance7159]

In Manipur it is called Thangjing and we consumed it raw. It's such a tasty treat.

[@AtharvaAgarwal]

Roast them in ghee and sprinkle some Salt you'll love it

[@farhanch1606]

These sell for like $9 per kg. Traders are just making some big bucks.

[@nikhilsajwan7411]

Bruh I was eating them as popcorn a pound at a time did not knew so much effort was needed for it.

[@lyniE13]

It tastes so good you know !! And I do respect the farmers . Their government needs to appreciate their effort and work hard too .

[@vercharles9198]

The fruits themselves are a very popular delicacy here in Manipur, India. We eat the thin layer of flesh around the seeds. The seeds themselves are either thrown away or eaten raw or fried as snacks.

[@mothourongtontang3921]

thangjing natro?

[@drashtithakkar6359]

Awesome documentary guys! Hats off to the harvest heros ❤️

[@tushar674]

Kya sharaab piyega kya daru piyega kya machli lega kya meat lega 😂🤣 this man is so honest

[@cub08]

this valuable and nutritious resource deserves so much hardwork, all put in by the labours, they deserve the money😳

[@johnnoronha3757]

I've always seen these seeds in the stores but never gave them a try. I've associated them with Hindu puja, but didn't know much about them. Thank you for this very informative video detailing the hard work that goes into harvesting and processing them.. Gotta try some now..

[@ritikshaw5868]

The one's meant for puja will be bland by themselves if you don't add any flavour. But nowadays you can find salted ones as snacks etc.

[@thefrenchmanleo]

Very interesting video! Lots of good detail!

[@abhishekrana6129]

I didn't know it takes ton of hard work to get Makhana from ponds to homes. I don't know why but my respect increased towards these people a lot after seeing this.

[@clioa2558]

In this economy, everything will become an episode on So Expensive

[@thegreengatsby9803]

Basically, why life is so expensive

[@nomaddesibro]

I salute these hard work people 👍👍👍👍

[@ritubajaj93]

I love makhana so much. We make a dish with makhana in it. Also water lily can be used to make a sabji. I really appreciate their handwork. Up till now I used to wonder why they are so expensive. Thank you so much for sharing this information.

[@angelaparkkim3152]

We have plenty of these here in manipur but we didn’t know they used to make this!!we call it thangzing

[@lazitmech60]

Then people of manipur should harvest this seed, fox nuts got huge potential in coming days. People need to aware of this products most of our people don't know about this products if it stay in front of our eyes.

[@lazitmech60]

@sandy yep for some dumb it just waste of money, for the world it's a healthy food.

[@lazitmech60]

@sandy unhygienic 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣wow Do u know how much hygienic your momos is? Do u know how much hygienic your butcher cuts your chicken or pork. Don't lecture about hygienic that products is solid, dry, n cooked . So basically if I buy mizake mango of Japan which cost 1 lakh in India rupes basically iam paying for hygienic, the taste is useless, but if the king of mango Alfonso which cost 200 rs in India basically iam not paying it's hygienic price because it's unhygienic, taste is super n whole world demand from India. This is mindset nothing more some still slave of western cult some promote its regional products.

[@commentnahipadhaikar2339]

@sandy Literally most of the agricultural produce is made like that only, no matter whatever the country is. And I have personally seen such areas, they keep the base, even the floor clean. Infact they polish the floor daily.

[@tubeysr]

It is unbearably hot in there, even for 10 minutes. These workers work from 6am to 4pm, they bear all the elements of heat, humidity, bare feet in mud whole day.... not to forget the workers who work with the nut roasting and popping....respect to them. I pray and wish they get better facilities and appropriate wages for them, asap.

[@vidhoard]

So much work for such small turn out! Incredible show of hard work.

[@kbeautyconindia9542]

We eat this raw or boiled in Manipur, Northeast India. Tastes like cloud in your mouth

[@anushk7157]

Yeah, off late I've realised there are many similarities in bihari & manipuri cuisine.

[@alrighty6898]

The answer to all these videos is The middlemen. They’re the ones that jack up the price

[@Ayeshazq_arts]

My Ammi once put this on sweets she made and I never knew what it was until today... Great video and thanks to all the farmers that help grow such food us... 💛

[@abhishekmishra7239]

I do export fox nut

[@vipul0807]

My friend introduced it to me. It tastes incredible especially with the kheer.

[@harshraj6995]

Thanks Insider for covering India and specially bihar .

[@blazingguyop]

My father introduced it to me I love it Especially with Curry ❤ And healthy too

[@anujpramanik1819]

@Robert Lemon kind of nutty popcorn like flavour but naturally sweeter.

[@JoseRamos-mv2ty]

Do you also have thong on like that old guy 😭😂🤣

[@anujpramanik1819]

@@JoseRamos-mv2ty Cheap and unfunny 😒

[@ackshayshukla]

@@JoseRamos-mv2ty no one wears it except if you are a wrestler, a devotee of Lord Hanuman, or some priests wear it. Others wear it because they belong to old school. And it's comfy af.

[@anujpramanik1819]

@Robert Lemon You can roast and add a little salt to just taste it like that or maybe with some additional butter, you could eat it popcorn style. In India we make a lot of dishes with it like Makhane ki kheer (a dessert) and Makhana curry (a savoury version). You could google these recipes or watch them on KZbin.

[@brownerjerry174]

We recently started buying these and when fried with spices they beat out pop-corns 1000:1 and are still very healthy. I wonder why these were 'undiscovered' for so long until the recent rise.

[@alok_srivastava]

People all over India have been taking it for centuries. Especially in fasting during Hindu festivals.

[@AtharvaAgarwal]

Indians consume this from 1000s of year. It's $8 for a kg in india. It's staple diet during fast like navratri.

[@Kachaknaini]

Been eating them since childhood, I am 41 now.

[@alvanthen7409]

Just bought as im curious..Its so yummy,love the nutty flavour.. thank you so much farmers🙏❤

[@sonusmeister2325]

Thanks for making it clear that it's referring to water lily seed on the title.

[@mumne.darang]

From now on I will never question why makhanas are soo costly

[@vannieroxas3317]

I love discovering new things from this channel

[@MikePuorro]

7:18 "At the processing facility, workers clean the seeds once more." (In filthy water)

[@thebakchodengineer]

I am from Mithila Bihar India, where lily seed(Makhana) is produced here the most in the world and it is very difficult to produce it, bcz we leave the pond for more than 6 months after the first seed is planted, and then after it grows on it, its thorns become thorny. It would have been very difficult to get the lily seed." I once told my father that I will not study, I have to work, then father took me to the pond to get the seed out, then many thorns pricked my body and its seed would come out during the cold, due to which My health got worse since then I never say that I will not study

[@KeliK1]

Very interesting!

[@b.n.production9036]

Excellent documentation

[@AntuNeelesh]

My family comes from this part of India and we have been eating fox nuts (makhana) as an evening snack since decades. Indeed very healthy food along with "sattu" (Bengal gram flour) - both of which I'm currently eating and watching this video 😜

[@ThaoPhuong-tf3ec]

I have never heard that Lily seeds can be edible until watching this video. We plant a lot in Vietnam.

[@nunyabiznes33]

I thought Vietnam grow lotus?

[@front2760]

Learned something new.Also If those farmers had a few more dollars they could automate the harvesting and even the roasting it would help the bottom line i think.

[@nobodyspecial4702]

The farmers would never be able to afford machinery and the middle men would never waste the money when they can just hire cheap labor.

[@santinby5615]

this ore my first time knowing about this nuts. what an insane work that needed for turn the seeds being a nuts.

[@ATBPVLOG]

Wow so amazing. The water lily seed is kind of foods. Love it

[@tusharnagar9300]

Omg so much hard work..I won’t throw a single one if it falls on floor while eating😢

[@WhuDhat]

those water lillies are a menace, glad to see they can give at least one thing back

[@nunyabiznes33]

Are they native to India or invasive?

[@danielblue4460]

@@nunyabiznes33 endemic to almost all Asia, at least East of Iran.

[@priyankatiwari1829]

Salute to those hard working farmers and workers .god please bless them give them success💗

[@badbrig]

Love this series xxx