Aazol's Kala Masala derives its name from its deep colour, the result of meticulous roasting of spices. Lending itself to a variety of vegetable dishes, dals and curries, this is north-western Maharashtra’s original garam masala.

Provenance

Kala masala is characterised by its rich, spicy, and often smoky flavour. The word "kala" in Marathi, the primary language of Maharashtra, means black, and Kala masala gets its name from the dark and robust colour it imparts to the dishes it is used in. This dark colour comes from the black spices used in the blend like black pepper and black cardamom.

About The Seller

Kiran Rajesh Nikumbhe, a determined homemaker from Shahada, Dist. Nandurbar, with a vision of creating her own small business to improve her family's life. In 2017, she ventured into the world of Cashew processing, and for three years, her business thrived. However, the onset of the COVID-19 lockdown brought economic hardship, forcing her to shut down the cashew processing venture. This inspired her to explore new possibilities and she decided to get a drier for dehydrating cashew nuts. Unfortunately, her initial attempts to sell dehydrated products did not yield the desired results.

Undeterred by the setbacks, Kiran sought guidance from her family. Together, they brainstormed ideas and identified a daily essential in everyone's kitchen – Masalas. In 2022, Kiran took a leap of faith and launched her own Masala business, drawing upon age-old recipes passed down from her Nani (maternal grandmother). Today, Kiran's Masala business has not only empowered her but also provided employment opportunities for five other women.