Pahadi haldi

₹217 · Moms Tree, Kamola. Cash on delivery across India. पहाड़ी हल्दी — Pahadi haldi, turmeric from the hills, from Moms Tree in Kamola, Uttarakhand…

About this product

पहाड़ी हल्दी — Pahadi haldi, turmeric from the hills, from Moms Tree in Kamola, Uttarakhand.

Turmeric grown in the hills is a deep golden colour and goes into almost everything cooked in a Pahadi kitchen: the dal pot, the sabzi, the masala for meat, and pickles. It is also mixed into warm milk at night in winter, and its paste is part of the haldi ceremony at hill weddings.

The listing does not say whether this is powder or whole root, or the weight of the pack, so check the label. Store it in a closed jar away from light, and use a dry spoon.

What you are buying

Before you order

Can I pay when it arrives?

Yes. Moms Tree takes cash on delivery, so nothing is paid up front and nothing is charged until the parcel is in your hands.

When will it reach me?

Arrives by Mon, 16 Nov for most addresses. It is packed and sent by Moms Tree in kamola — not from a warehouse — so it leaves the hills the same week you order it.

Who am I buying from?

Moms Tree, in kamola. Basket of Pahad does not hold stock or pack parcels — the shop does both. We take the payment and hold it until the order reaches you.

Can I send it back?

Food that has been opened cannot be returned. Anything that arrives damaged, leaking, short, or not what the page said is refunded in full — tell us within 48 hours.

About pahadi spices

What it tastes like

Hill spices are sun-dried in small lots and often ground by hand, so the smell is stronger and the grind coarser than packet spices. Jakhiya is nutty and toasty in hot fat, jambu brings a mild garlic-onion note, timur has a citrus smell and a tingle, and hill turmeric and chilli are deep in colour.

How it is used

Jakhiya seeds and dried jambu go into hot ghee or mustard oil at the start or end of cooking, as a tadka for potatoes, greens and dal. Ground spices and blends go in towards the end so the aroma stays. Seeds such as bhang and til are roasted for chutney and loon.

Keeping it

Keep every packet sealed in a dry jar, away from the stove, steam and sunlight. Use a dry spoon. Dried leaves such as jambu are the most delicate, and a little moisture is enough to spoil them.

How long it keeps

Whole seeds usually keep their smell for many months sealed, ground spices and blends for less. The pack's label gives the shop's own best-before date.

Pahadi spices: common questions

Why is the colour or grind different from a supermarket spice?

These are dried and ground in small lots, often by hand or in a small village mill, with nothing added for colour or flow. The grind is coarser and the colour follows the crop, so it varies between batches.

How much should I use?

Start with less than you would of a bought spice, because fresh hill spices are stronger. Half a teaspoon of jakhiya or a small pinch of jambu is enough for a pot. Taste, then add.

It has lost its smell. Can I bring it back?

Toast whole seeds lightly in a dry pan for a minute until they smell again, then use them straight away. Ground spices cannot really be revived, which is why small packs are better for those.

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