The world might look at Khandesh as the land of brinjal and jowar, but for us at Aazol, this region holds premium for its smoky Khandeshi Kala Masala. Unlike the other red-hued masalas in our pantry, this one is burnished brown-black owing to the deep roasting of spices. Lending itself to a variety of vegetable recipes, Amti (dal) and Rassa (curry), this is north-western Maharashtra’s original garam masala.
Provenance
The etymological origins of Khandesh range from Kanha-desh (land of Krishna, the deity worshipped by Ahirs, or the cattle herders of the region) to khaan (basin of the Waghur River) and desh (country). The region bears a cultural imprint of the Mughals, Satvahana dynasty, adivasis and the nomadic Arya people or Ahirs. The Kala Masala’s flavour is as intriguing as its place of origin, with the addition of dark spices like clove and cinnamon lending it depth and colour.
About The Seller
Based out of Pune, Santkrupa SHG is a second-generation women-run family business that had its reigns pass down from mother-in-law to daughter-in-law. Set up with an intention to upskill and empower marginalised women, Smita Vishal Yadav runs a happy ship with 50 female employees, many of whom have been with the business for over 10 years. Producing a range of spices, chutneys and snacks, all from the freshest seasonal ingredients, the women of Santkrupa are bound by a sense of ownership and flourish in a workplace environment that fosters growth. The astonishing variety of products they make reiterate the axiom that goodness can truly come in all flavours – honestly spicy to sincerely sweet!
