Kambu, bajra in Hindi, is pearl millet, the hardiest of the major grains, domesticated in the West African Sahel around 4,500 years ago. It reached India in Harappan times and is now grown most in Rajasthan, which leads the world. India is the largest producer. Bajra roti with ghee and jaggery is a winter food in Rajasthan and Gujarat, and kambu koozh is a summer drink in Tamil Nadu. Older books call it Pennisetum glaucum.
- Botanical name
- Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone
- Family
- Poaceae
- Tamil
- Kambu
- Hindi
- Bajra
- Parts used
- Grain after cooking
- Habit
- Pearl millet; Kew’s name is Cenchrus, not a children’s raw binge
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Kambu
It is a tall annual grass, usually head-high or more, with broad leaves and thick stems.
The head is a dense, stiff, cylindrical spike like a candle, often twenty to forty centimetres long.
The grains are grey, rounded and pearl-like, and stick out between the bristles.
Sorghum has a branched panicle of round grains, not a candle-shaped spike.
Foxtail millet has a softer, drooping head with much smaller grains.
Traditional use of Kambu
Kitchen
Bajra roti and rotla are eaten with garlic chutney, ghee and jaggery in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Rajasthani and Gujarati food practice
Kitchen
Kambu koozh, a fermented porridge thinned with buttermilk and onion, is drunk in Tamil Nadu summers.
Tamil food practice
Kitchen
Bajra khichdi and raab, a warm bajra-flour drink, are winter foods of western India.
Western Indian food practice
Modern notes on Kambu
It grows where rainfall is low and temperatures are very high, often beyond the limits of sorghum and maize.
ICRISAT and partners released an iron-rich pearl millet variety, Dhanashakti, in India in 2014.
Its flour turns rancid within days because of active fat-splitting enzymes, so it is best ground fresh.
The grain is gluten-free and rich in iron, zinc and fibre.
Kambu safety
Grain infected by the ergot fungus, which forms dark or pinkish growths in place of seeds, has caused poisoning in India, so clean the grain and discard odd-looking kernels. Use the flour fresh.
Ecology and sourcing
Wild pearl millet grows in the Sahel and Sahara margins.
Unlike most cereals it is mainly cross-pollinated by wind.
Downy mildew is its most serious disease in India.
Related plants
Also in Poaceae
Questions about Kambu
What is kambu in English?
Pearl millet.
Why does bajra flour go bitter?
Its oils turn rancid quickly; grind it fresh.
Is bajra gluten-free?
Yes.
Where is bajra grown in India?
Mostly in Rajasthan, with Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Haryana.
Why is the name Cenchrus?
Botanists moved it from Pennisetum to Cenchrus.
Sources
- Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q50840653 (Cenchrus americanus)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.