West Bengal Sarso Mustard Oil Pressing Hooghly Agriculture

West Bengal is one of India top mustard-producing states, with the Hoogly, Bardhaman, and Birbhum districts growing black mustard (Brassica juncea) on winter paddy stubble fields from November to February. Cold-pressed mustard oil (Kachi Ghani / Kolhu oil) pressed in wooden traditional mills has a pungent, sharp flavour essential to Bengali cuisine (machher jhol, shorshe ilish, aloo posto). Cold-pressed mustard oil preserves the glucosinolate compounds responsible for its distinctive bite that refinery-processed oil loses. Cooperative oil pressing units in Hooghly and Bardhaman market branded Kachi Ghani mustard oil to urban Bengali households who reject the milder refined oil. West Bengal mustard cake (residue) is also sold as organic fertiliser and cattle feed by cooperative oil mills.