Celebrating women who are keeping India’s spice traditions alive

What’s the key to a great dish? Some say it’s love, while others swear by technique — but let’s be honest, it’s always the spices. The right blend can take you straight to your grandmother’s kitchen, awaken childhood memories, or transport you to a faraway region of India. And today, a new generation of women entrepreneurs is ensuring that India’s spice tradition lives on — one flavourful mix at a time.

Sambar Stories

Set up by Sneha Sirivara in 2013 in Bengaluru, Sambar Stories was born out of a simple yet heartfelt mission — to help people recreate authentic, high-quality South Indian meals from scratch, so they never have to miss home. A one-woman army at the time of launch, Sneha would make different spice mixes in her kitchen, and as operations grew, she converted her home garage into a small unit. From freshly ground masala powders and chutney pudis to coffee powders with just the right blend of chicory, you’ll find all your kitchen essentials here.

Signature offerings: Chutney pudi, masala powders and instant mixes are their bestsellers. Meanwhile, their snacks like chakli/murukku, appalams, nippat/thattai are all made by women from villages like Kallakurichi in Tamil Nadu.

Madhura Bachal

A frustrating search for an authentic Maharashtrian recipe led Madhura, a banker by profession on maternity leave to create her own — and in the process, transform her passion into a thriving spice brand. Back when Facebook was gaining popularity in India, Madhura shared her blog post on the platform to spread the word among friends. One recipe led to another, and soon, she found herself building a loyal fan base. This momentum inspired her to launch her YouTube channel, Madhura’s Recipe — and from that point on, there was no looking back.

Stepping out of the digital space, Madhura published her first recipe book in 2018, which made it to Amazon’s bestseller list. The same year, she launched Madhura’s Recipe Masala (MRM), a range of authentic Maharashtrian spices.

Signature offerings: Over time, her product range has expanded to seven signature spice blends, including Goda Masala, Kanda Lasun Masala, Byadagi Mirchi, Malvani Masala, Special Kala Masala, Misal Masala, and Pav Bhaji Masala. So, whether it’s Misal Masala or Goda Masala, Madhura ensures that authenticity is just a spoonful away.

Masala Tokri

From a mother’s passion to a thriving spice brand, Masala Tokri is a celebration of authentic flavours, strong women and the magic of homemade masalas.

With 20 years of experience in the spice industry and a certification in spice processing technology, Urmila Sawant began crafting her own unique blends, drawing inspiration from India’s rich culinary diversity. Her hand-pounded spices quickly gained popularity, attracting customers from across the globe. By late 2018, her daughter Aarti Samant noticed that her mother’s homegrown spice blends were becoming popular, sparking the idea for something bigger. So,in 2019, the duo launched Masala Tokri, a premium gourmet spice brand, hand-crafted and inspired by blends from local regions of India.

Masala Tokri handpicks A-grade, export-quality ingredients to ensure every blend bursts with rich, authentic flavours. Their spices are 100% natural, free from chemicals and preservatives, and freshly pounded in chakkis, preserving their bold aroma and coarse texture.

Signature offerings: Their signature masalas include Goan Fish Curry Masala, Malvani Meat Masala and Pindi Chole Masala, etc.

Would you try one of their blends? Let us know your favourite spice story!