Longpi Black Serpentine Pottery Ukhrul Manipur

Longpi pottery is a GI-protected traditional stoneware from Longpi Khullen village in Ukhrul district, Manipur, produced by Tangkul Naga women using a unique hand-building technique without a wheel or kiln — the clay body is made from a blend of serpentine rock powder and weathered clay, shaped by hand-beating on a smooth stone, and fired in an open wood fire to produce a characteristic matte black natural stone-look surface. The pottery is known for its heat resistance, which makes it ideal for direct stovetop cooking, and for the natural polished surface achieved by rubbing with a smooth river stone before firing. Longpi pots, plates, and serving ware have become popular in urban premium cookware markets as an alternative to chemical-coated non-stick cookware. The GI protection has helped formalise the Longpi cooperative and connect women potters to national e-commerce buyers. Longpi cookware is featured in premium restaurants and featured in sustainable kitchenware media coverage. The tradition is exclusively practiced by Tangkul Naga women of Longpi Khullen village.