Abstract:

The common method of preparation of numsing, a traditional fish product developed by the Mising community of Assam and the traditional knowledge associated with it are discussed. Flame dried and smoked small economic fish species (Puntius spp., Amblypharyngodon sp., Lepidocephalus sp., Channa spp., Trichogaster (Colisa) spp., Danio spp., Mastacembelus spp., Mystus spp., Rasbora spp., etc.) and petioles of arum (Alocasia macrorrhiza) are ground together, packed in bamboo container and fermented for about 30 days to prepare the product. The complete process involves 11 distinct steps and the end product is preserved in the fermenting bamboo container itself by keeping it suspended over a fire place. It is consumed after steam cooking or after preparing some curry along with vegetables.