🔍 Search products, states… ⌘K
Tirupati Laddu, a GI tagged food stuff product of Andhra Pradesh

Photo: V Bhavya / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Food Stuff · Andhra Pradesh

Tirupati Laddu

GI Registered Andhra Pradesh Food Stuff

The prasadam of Tirumala — made in the temple's 'potu' kitchen to a 300-year-old recipe, and nowhere else.

GI numberGI-121
Registered
Goods class30
ProprietorTirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)
StateAndhra Pradesh

The story

Roughly 300,000 laddus leave the Tirumala temple's sacred kitchen every single day, each made to the 'dittam' — a fixed recipe of besan, ghee, sugar, cashew, cardamom and raisins that has changed only six times in three centuries. The 2009 GI registration is unusual: it protects a religious prasadam, ensuring no shop outside the Devasthanams can sell 'Tirupati Laddu'.

How it is made

  1. Besan batter fried into boondi in pure cow ghee in the temple potu.
  2. Boondi mixed with sugar syrup, cashews, raisins, cardamom and candy sugar.
  3. Hand-rolled to fixed weights (small, medium, and the 750g kalyanotsavam laddu).
  4. Distributed only through TTD counters at Tirumala.

◈ How to identify the authentic Tirupati Laddu

What to check

  • Sold only at Tirumala temple counters by TTD — never in shops.
  • Distinct ghee aroma and dense, moist crumb.
  • Fixed sizes and TTD packaging.
  • Any 'Tirupati Laddu' sold commercially elsewhere violates the GI.

Where to buy

Authorised producers for this recent registration are not yet listed in our dataset. Check the GI Journal entry for authorised users, and prefer government emporia and cooperatives in Andhra Pradesh.

Registry record

Registry record: GI-121 · Registered 2009 · Proprietor: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)

Region and market

Tirupati Laddu is the sweet offering distributed at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world. The temple's kitchen, known as the potu, makes the laddus in huge quantities daily. Pilgrims receive a free small laddu and can buy additional ones at counters, and the laddu is treated as sacred prasadam rather than an ordinary commercial sweet.

Buying guide

The only genuine source is the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), so buy at official temple counters or through TTD's authorised channels. Sweets sold under the name in shops and online may not be the real prasadam. The laddu has a limited shelf life, so check dates and keep it in a cool place, and follow the temple's rules on how many pilgrims may carry.

Frequently asked questions

What is the GI registration number of Tirupati Laddu?

This catalogue lists Tirupati Laddu as GI-121. Registration numbers should be confirmed against the official GI Journal before commercial use.

Where is Tirupati Laddu made?

Tirupati Laddu is produced in Andhra Pradesh, in the food stuff category of this catalogue.

Can Tirupati Laddu legally be made outside Andhra Pradesh?

No. GI protection means only producers within the notified region of Andhra Pradesh may legally sell goods under the name “Tirupati Laddu”.

How can I tell if my Tirupati Laddu is authentic?

Check the registered proprietor against the official registry, buy from authorised producer cooperatives, and use the identification checklist on this page.