The Godrej Food Trend Report 2020 panellists had predicted that artisanal produce would be in the spotlight this year. If there was ever a time to appreciate our homegrown brands and prod-ucts, it is now. Handcrafted artisanal produce have become affordable and they are slowly and steadily gaining consumer trust. Here is a curated list of seven brands for those who are uniniti-ated yet. 

1. Little Farm Co. 

Traditional lemon pickle or a not-so-traditional mandarin orange pickle? Take your pick from the variety available at Little Farm Co., a “farm-to-fork” brand based in Madhya Pradesh. Little Farm Co. claims its pickles are handcrafted, free of preservatives, additives and are made using traditional techniques. 

2. The Cheese Collective

Keen to try goat milk cheese? Then check out Mumbai-based fromager Mansi Jasani’s brand. She’s known for her fresh chevre rolled in dried herbs or red chilli flakes. The Cheese Collective also curates cheese from across the country, provides customised cheese platters and conducts workshops on cheese appreciation and pairing.  

3. Mason & Co 

Mason & Co has been known for its high quality bean-to-bar, organic chocolates since 2014. Fans swear by their flavours such as coconut milk, black sesame and raisin, and chilli and cinna-mon. Cacao beans are sourced from farmers in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and converted into chocolates, cacao nibs, powder and butter at their factory near Auroville.

4. Hamiast 

Saffron-infused honey, morrels, dry fruits and extra virgin olive oil: a range of products available on Hamiast, which showcases the culinary diversity of Jammu and Kashmir. The online portal was launched in 2018 to create a marketplace for products by small producers, farmers and artisans from the state. 

5. Bare Necessities

Bare Necessities is a Bengaluru-based brand that champions a zero-waste lifestyle. Set up in 2016, it has been retailing zero-waste products and conducting workshops. From stainless steel straws to beeswax food wrap and from coconut bowls to wooden cutlery, Bare Necessities of-fers several culinary eco-friendly products. 

6. Begum Victoria Cheese

Chef Manu Chandra of the Olive Group spearheads this brand of handmade, organic cheese. The cheese is made from A2 milk from domestic cow breeds and uses traditional methods.  On offer are parmesan, brie, feta, fontina and cheddar. 

7. Pascati 

Cacao from Kerala’s Idukki district finds its way into this organic and fair trade compliant chocolate brand. Pascati offers a wide variety of flavours in their bars including mango, raspberry and hibiscus, rose and lemon and ginger.

If you have tried these brands or any other artisanal products, share your experience with us!