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{{short description|Fermented product of the North Eastern Region of India}}
{{Short description|Naga fermented soyabean}}
 
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Italic title|reason=[[Category:Naga words and phrases]]}}
{{Italic title|reason=[[:Category:Naga words and phrases]]}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
[[File:Naga Smoked Pork with Axone (Fermented Soyabeans).jpg|thumb|Smoked pork with axone]]


'''Akhuni''' ({{lang-as|আখুনি}}), also known as '''axone''', is a fermented [[soybean]] product commonly used in [[Naga cuisine]].   The word ''Axone'' is from [[Sumi language|Sumi dialect]], and is a combination of two words ''Axo-ne'', ''Axo'' which means "aroma" or "smell" and the word ''ne'' or ''nhe'' (similar word "tho") which means "deep" or "strong". So it may literally mean as "deep Smell" or  "strong smell". ''Axone'' is perhaps the most commonly used fermented product of [[Nagaland]] and the North Eastern Region of India. It is prepared year-around from soyabeans by people of all tribes, but most notably the [[Sumi Naga]]s of Nagaland. Soyabeans grow up to an altitude of 1,500 m and in rainy conditions, making it extremely suited to the Naga hills. It is also a protein-rich legume in an otherwise traditionally protein-sparse diet.
{{Infobox Prepared Food|name=Akhuni|name_italics=Akhuni|image=Naga Smoked Pork with Axone (Fermented Soyabeans).jpg|caption=Naga Smoked Pork with Axone|region=[[Nagaland]], [[India]]|type=Fermented soyabeans|country=India|main_ingredient=Soyabeans}}
 
'''''Akhuni''''' ([[Nagamese creole|Nagamese]]: {{Lang|nag|আখুনি}}), also known as '''''axone''''', is a fermented [[soybean]] product commonly used in [[Naga cuisine]]. ''Axone'' is perhaps the most commonly used fermented product of [[Nagaland]] and the North Eastern Region of India.
 
== Etymology ==
The word ''Axone'' is from [[Sümi language|Sümi dialect]], and is a combination of two words ''Axo-ne'', ''Axo'' means "aroma" or "smell" and the word ''ne'' or ''nhe'' (similar word "tho") means "deep" or "strong". So it can be literally translated as "deep Smell" or  "strong smell".  
 
== Consumption ==
It is prepared year-round from soybeans by people of all tribes, but most notably the [[Sümi Naga]]s of Nagaland. Soybeans grow at an altitude of 1,500 m and in rainy conditions, making them well suited for the Naga hills. They are also a protein-rich legume and traditionally protein-sparse diet.


''Axone'' is prepared by picking and cleaning the soyabeans well in fresh water, and then boiling them until they are soft, but still whole. The excess water is drained and the soybeans are placed into a pot or degchi and put either out in the sun or next to the fire to warm and ferment. This takes three to four days to ferment in summer and around one week in winter. <ref>{{cite web|title= The most trusted source is that of a folktale about a young lady by the name Kujunakali |url=https://NagaEsque.com/the-story-of-axone-ghovili-achumi/|website=NagaEsque|date=4 August 2020|language=en}}</ref>
''Axone'' is prepared by rinsing picked soybeans in freshwater, and then boiling them until they are soft, but still whole. The excess water is drained and the soybeans are placed into a pot or degchi and left either out in the sun or next to the fire to let them ferment. This takes three to four days to ferment in summer and around one week in winter. <ref>{{cite web|title= The most trusted source is that of a folktale about a young lady by the name Kujunakali |url=https://NagaEsque.com/the-story-of-axone-ghovili-achumi/|website=NagaEsque|date=4 August 2020|language=en}}</ref>


As with the majority of fermented products in Nagaland, it is judged to be ready when it “smells right”. The soybeans are then placed in a wooden pestle and smashed with a mortar. They are not mashed completely but instead smashed as you would with garlic. A handful is then scooped up and placed in the center of a banana leaf, and the edges closed to make a parcel. The package is sold or stored next to the fire and can be used immediately or kept for some weeks, darkening in colour each day.
As with the majority of fermented products in Nagaland, it is considered to be ready when it “smells right”. The soybeans are then placed in a wooden pestle and mashed with a mortar. They are not mashed completely but instead crashed as you would with garlic. A handful is then scooped up and placed in the center of a banana leaf, its edges closed to make a parcel. The package is sold or stored next to the fire and can be used immediately or kept for some weeks, darkening in color each day.


The process — proteolysis of soya protein to amino acids — results in a distinctive umami taste. ''Axone'' is then used in a huge variety of dishes. An example of just two is fire-smoked pork and ''axone'' and ''nula'' (snails with ''axone'').
Akhuni fermentation results in [[proteolysis]] giving it a distinctive [[umami]] taste. ''Axone'' is then used in a huge variety of dishes. An example of just two is fire-smoked pork and ''axone'' and ''nula'' (snails with ''axone'').


==In Popular Culture==
==In popular culture==
The 2019 [[Hindi cinema]] titled '[[Axone (2019 film)|Axone]]' directed by [[Nicholas Kharkongor]] deals with a day in the life of a group of friends around wedding and cooking Axone dish.<ref>{{cite web|title= The Axone story: a film dishes out a different take on a familiar Northeastern experience |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/the-axone-story-a-film-dishes-out-different-take-on-a-familiar-northeastern-experience-5727543/|website=[[The Indian Express]]|date=14 May 2019|language=en}}</ref>
A 2019 [[Bollywood]] movie titled '[[Axone (2019 film)|Axone]]' directed by [[Nicholas Kharkongor]] deals with a day in life of a group of friends getting ready for a wedding and cooking Axone dish.<ref>{{cite web|title= The Axone story: a film dishes out a different take on a familiar Northeastern experience |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/the-axone-story-a-film-dishes-out-different-take-on-a-familiar-northeastern-experience-5727543/|website=[[The Indian Express]]|date=14 May 2019|language=en}}</ref>
 
== Similar dishes ==
It is quite similar to Japanese [[nattō]], piak of [[Arunachal Pradesh]], Nepali [[kinema]], ''[[tungrymbai]]'' of [[Meghalaya]], ''hawaijaar'' of [[Manipur]] and ''bekang um'' of [[Mizoram]].


== References ==
== References ==
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{{Soy}}
{{Soy}}


[[Category:Naga cuisine]]
[[Category:Northeast Indian cuisine]]
[[Category:Northeast Indian cuisine]]
[[Category:Fermented soy-based foods]]
[[Category:Fermented soy-based foods]]


{{India-cuisine-stub}}
{{India-cuisine-stub}}

Latest revision as of 17:07, 16 April 2022


Akhuni
Naga Smoked Pork with Axone
TypeFermented soyabeans
Place of originIndia
Region or stateNagaland, India
Main ingredientsSoyabeans

Akhuni (Nagamese: আখুনি), also known as axone, is a fermented soybean product commonly used in Naga cuisine. Axone is perhaps the most commonly used fermented product of Nagaland and the North Eastern Region of India.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The word Axone is from Sümi dialect, and is a combination of two words Axo-ne, Axo means "aroma" or "smell" and the word ne or nhe (similar word "tho") means "deep" or "strong". So it can be literally translated as "deep Smell" or "strong smell".

Consumption[edit | edit source]

It is prepared year-round from soybeans by people of all tribes, but most notably the Sümi Nagas of Nagaland. Soybeans grow at an altitude of 1,500 m and in rainy conditions, making them well suited for the Naga hills. They are also a protein-rich legume and traditionally protein-sparse diet.

Axone is prepared by rinsing picked soybeans in freshwater, and then boiling them until they are soft, but still whole. The excess water is drained and the soybeans are placed into a pot or degchi and left either out in the sun or next to the fire to let them ferment. This takes three to four days to ferment in summer and around one week in winter. [1]

As with the majority of fermented products in Nagaland, it is considered to be ready when it “smells right”. The soybeans are then placed in a wooden pestle and mashed with a mortar. They are not mashed completely but instead crashed as you would with garlic. A handful is then scooped up and placed in the center of a banana leaf, its edges closed to make a parcel. The package is sold or stored next to the fire and can be used immediately or kept for some weeks, darkening in color each day.

Akhuni fermentation results in proteolysis giving it a distinctive umami taste. Axone is then used in a huge variety of dishes. An example of just two is fire-smoked pork and axone and nula (snails with axone).

In popular culture[edit | edit source]

A 2019 Bollywood movie titled 'Axone' directed by Nicholas Kharkongor deals with a day in life of a group of friends getting ready for a wedding and cooking Axone dish.[2]

Similar dishes[edit | edit source]

It is quite similar to Japanese nattō, piak of Arunachal Pradesh, Nepali kinema, tungrymbai of Meghalaya, hawaijaar of Manipur and bekang um of Mizoram.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "The most trusted source is that of a folktale about a young lady by the name Kujunakali". NagaEsque. 4 August 2020.
  2. ↑ "The Axone story: a film dishes out a different take on a familiar Northeastern experience". The Indian Express. 14 May 2019.

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