From Chennai to Your Kitchen: Our Journey

Every great journey begins with a single step—or in our case, a single batch of podi made in a small kitchen in Chennai. This is the story of House of Kumaran, a tale of tradition, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to authentic flavors.

It all started in 2021, during the pandemic, when families across India were rediscovering home cooking. Our founder, Kumaran, noticed something troubling—people were struggling to find authentic South Indian condiments that tasted like homemade. Store-bought options were either loaded with preservatives or simply didn't capture the essence of traditional recipes.

Kumaran reached back to his roots, to his grandmother's recipes that had been passed down through three generations. These weren't just recipes; they were memories of lazy Sunday mornings with idli and fresh podi, of festive seasons with special pickles, of everyday meals elevated by simple, authentic flavors.

The first batch of podi was made in our family kitchen—just 50 packets, shared among friends and relatives. The response was overwhelming. 'This tastes exactly like what my mother used to make,' said one. 'I haven't tasted anything this authentic in years,' said another. We knew we had something special.

But scaling up while maintaining quality was a challenge. We refused to take shortcuts. No artificial preservatives, no machine grinding that kills the aroma, no compromising on ingredient quality. Instead, we invested in traditional stone grinders, sourced spices directly from farmers, and trained our team in the traditional methods.

The first year was tough. We worked out of a small facility, packing orders till midnight, personally calling customers to ensure satisfaction. But word spread. First within Chennai, then Tamil Nadu, and soon across India. Today, we serve customers in all 28 states.

Growth brought new challenges. How do you maintain consistency when you're making thousands of packets instead of fifty? Our answer: small batches. Even today, each batch of podi is made in limited quantities, tested for taste and aroma, and only then approved for packing. It's slower, yes, but it's the only way to ensure every packet meets our standards.

Along the way, we've stayed true to our core values. Zero artificial preservatives—because that's how our grandmothers made it. Premium ingredients—because quality can't be compromised. Traditional methods—because some things shouldn't change.

Today, House of Kumaran is more than a business. It's a mission to preserve South Indian culinary traditions and share them with the world. Every time you open a packet of our podi or pickle, you're not just tasting a product—you're experiencing generations of culinary wisdom.

Our journey is far from over. We're constantly exploring new products, always guided by tradition and quality. From Chennai to your kitchen, we're grateful for every customer who has joined us on this journey. Here's to many more years of authentic flavors and cherished memories.