What it is & quality specs (India’s official standards)

• Legally defined under India’s food law as a semi-soft, concentrated composite milk product made from chakka (de-wheyed cultured curd) with sugar; variants include plain, full-cream and fruit Shrikhand. Compositional minima include (plain): total solids ≥58%, milk fat (on dry basis) ≥8.5%, milk protein (on dry basis) ≥9%, titratable acidity ≤1.4% (as lactic acid); fruit Shrikhand allows protein ≥6%. These norms are notified by FSSAI (India’s food regulator).
  
• Analytical methods and parameters (e.g., total solids, fat, ash) for Shrikhand/Chakka are specified in FSSAI’s official Manual of Methods – Milk & Milk Products for enforcement testing.
  
• Older BIS (Indian Standards) specs align on high solids and minimum fat/protein thresholds for Shrikhand, reinforcing the traditional high-solids, rich profile.
  

Exports & market access (where it fits in trade codes; who buys; compliance)

• In customs classification, Shrikhand typically ships under dairy HS 0403 (other fermented/acidified milk & cream; incl. products with added sugar/flavour) — the same family as yogurt/lassi. India’s tariff schedule reflects 04039090 “Other” under this heading.
  
• India’s Dairy Products exports in FY 2023–24 were 63,738 MT worth US$ 272.64 million; top destinations: UAE, Saudi Arabia, USA, Bhutan, Singapore — i.e., strong diaspora and nearby markets. (APEDA official.)
  
• For higher-barrier markets (e.g., EU), plants need Export Inspection Council (EIC) approval and must meet HACCP-based controls; the EIC Executive Instructions spell out approval, listing, and certification steps for milk/milk-product exports.
  

Why it’s specific to India/the region (strengths)

• Culinary specificity: Shrikhand’s chakka-based process, saffron/cardamom flavour profiles, and festive use are Western-India traditions now codified in national standards — making it a distinct Indian fermented dairy segment rather than generic yogurt.
  
• Dairy scale + regulation: India’s huge milk base and detailed FSSAI standards (plus EIC export oversight) enable consistent quality and export-ready compliance for traditional dairy sweets like Shrikhand.
  

Mahabaleshwar Strawberries (GI-tagged; Satara district, Maharashtra)

What it is & quality/identity

• Geographical Indication (GI): Mahabaleshwar Strawberry is officially registered in India’s GI Registry (Application No. 154; Maharashtra). Government GI lists confirm the registration.
  
• The GI dossier/description highlights the cool plateau climate and red lateritic soils around Mahabaleshwar–Panchgani, and lays out cultivation timing (planting from ~Sept–Oct; an ~8-month cycle) that underpin the fruit’s sweetness/aroma and regional identity
  
• National Horticulture Board material similarly places Indian strawberry planting in Sept–Oct with harvest into late spring, consistent with the Mahabaleshwar window.
  

Exports (HS code; volumes; destinations)

• Fresh strawberries ship under HS 081010 (Strawberries, fresh). Official WITS/UN-Comtrade data show India’s 2023 exports of fresh strawberries at US$ 33.56k (22,322 kg), mainly to UAE, Bhutan and Nepal — indicating a small but targeted export niche.
  

Why it’s specific to India/the region (strengths)

• GI protection + terroir: The GI formally links product reputation to Mahabaleshwar’s terroir (altitude, lateritic soils, cool nights), supporting premium positioning and origin-based branding.
  
• Cluster maturity: The area has an organized grower ecosystem and agri-tourism/processing linkages jams, crushes, desserts), anchoring quality and market continuity season-after-season. (GI narrative and horticulture references.
  

Quick reference

• Shrikhand (FSSAI) — key minima: total solids ≥58%; milk fat (dry basis) ≥8.5% (plain), ≥10% (full-cream); milk protein (dry basis) ≥9% (plain), ≥7% (full-cream); acidity ≤1.4%.
  
• Dairy exports (India, FY 2023–24): 63,738 MT; US$ 272.64 M; top markets: UAE, Saudi Arabia, USA, Bhutan, Singapore.
  
• Strawberries (fresh, HS 081010; India 2023): US$ 33.56k, 22,322 kg; top destinations: UAE, Bhutan, Nepal.
  
• Mahabaleshwar Strawberry: GI-registered (No. 154); cultivation tied to Mahabaleshwar–Panchgani’s climate/soil; planting Sept–Oct; regional identity explicitly recognized.
  

What this means for positioning

• Shrikhand → play the regulated, rich-solids, diaspora-friendly Indian dessert story. Lead with compliance (FSSAI specs) and pack formats for GCC/North America; ensure EIC approvals for EU.
  
• Mahabaleshwar Strawberry → lean into GI and terroir. Exports are currently small, so focus on premium fresh in nearby markets (UAE) and GI-leveraged processed lines (frozen pulp, jams) where cold chain risks are lower; market with GI story and seasonality.