Shikora Speaking

A ''kulhar'' (Hindi: कुल्हड़ and Urdu: کلہڑ) or ''kulhad'', sometimes called a ''shikora'', is a traditional handle-less clay cup from South Asia that is typically unpainted and unglazed, and meant to be disposable. The most interesting feature of ''kulhar'' is not being painted and that differentiates a ''kulhar'' from a terra-cotta cup. The ''kulhar'' cup is unglazed inside out. ''Kulhars'' are made by firing in a kiln and are almost never reused. Bazaars and food stalls in the Indian subcontinent traditionally served hot beverages, such as tea, in ''kuhlars'', which suffused the beverage with an "earthy aroma" that was often considered appealing. Yoghurt, hot milk with sugar as well as some regional desserts, such as '' kulfi'' (traditional ice-cream), are also served in kulhars. Kulhars have gradually given way to polystyrene and coated paper cups, because the latter are lighter to carry in bulk and cheaper.⁠⁠

Possible origins

''Kulhars'' may have been in use in the region for the past 5,000 years, since the Indus Valley civilization.

Effects on taste

Since ''kulhars'' are unglazed, a hot drink such as tea partially soaks into the interior wall of the ''kulhar'' in which it being served. This has an enhancing effect on the beverage's taste and fragrance, which is sometimes described as " earthy" (सौंधी ख़ुशबू, '' sondhi khushboo''). Although ''kulhars'' have been losing ground to synthetic cups due to cost and efficiency reasons, higher-end restaurants often serve ''kulhar-waali chai'' (tea in kulhars) to their customers.

Revival efforts by Indian Railways and criticism

In 2004, the Indian Railways (then under the leadership of minister Laloo Prasad Yadav) attempted to revive the use of ''kulhars'' for tea and other beverages sold on railway stations and aboard trains. It was argued that this was more hygienic than plastic, and also more environmentally friendly because ''kulhars'' are made exclusively of clay. It was also believed that, since ''kulhars'' are manufactured by small rural kilns, this would assist in boosting rural employment.

Critics countered that the railways would need to dispense about 1.8 billion ''kulhars'' a year, which would mean heavy fuel consumption in the kilns with associated pollution. The discovery of thousands of years old shards from Indus Valley ruins was also used as evidence to challenge the assertion that kulhars biodegrade rapidly and are environmentally superior. If the ''kulhar'' is fired at higher temperatures the resultant item can take up to a decade to degrade. Fears were also expressed that a ''kulhar'' revival might result in topsoil depletion at the rate of per state per day and that the economic gains to rural artisans would be minimal.

Although alternatives to topsoil are available and ''kulhars'' can be made at lower temperatures to save fuel and make them more rapidly degradable, by 2008, the effort to revive ''kulhar'' use on the railways was being considered a failure with the continuing widespread use of plastic and coated-paper cups. The primary reasons were the weight of ''kulhars'' and the higher per-unit cost. One estimate claimed procurement costs to be 140 paisas per ''kulhar'' and 7–10 paisas for coated-paper cups. There were also some vendor complaints that, because ''kulhars'' absorb liquids to some extent, buyers have to be given more tea per serving in a ''kulhar'' than in a disposable plastic cup.

See also

* Matki (earthen pot)
* Matka gambling
* Mashk
* Indian pottery
* Head-carrying
* Pot-holder

References

{{reflist, 2

Food packaging
Indian culture
Pakistani culture
Indo-Caribbean culture
Indian pottery
Containers