Haleem: Hyderabad's new identity after Irani chai and Biryani

After Charminar, Irani chai and Biryani, Haleem is going to be the next identity for Hyderabad. As Ramzan fasts have started, preparation and sale of Haleem has also stared in a big way. History says the culinary item originally belongs to Iran. Nizam nawabs patronised its preparation in the city. It was a hotelier in the Old City, Hazi Hussain Zubair, who started preparation of Haleem for the consumption of common people in the holy month of Ramadan. It has then picked up throughout the city. Cafes and separate Haleem centres have become a common sight in Hyderabad in the month of Ramzan. As many as 28 different items - including dry fruits, are used in its preparation with chicken or mutton and it takes 14 hours for preparation. Haleem is being exported to Malaysia and Singapore now. Vegetarian Haleem is a specialty. Pista House has started its own brand of Haleem. This year, it has started Diet Haleem. Haleem centres have of late spread to Karimagar, Nizamabad and even far-off Visakhapatnam. BUt Hyderabad and Haleem cannot be seen separately as Hyderabadi Haleem has obtained the GI tag also.