Udhayam Oils

The smell of crushed seeds is the first thing you notice when you get close to No. 3/40 Cheyur Road. That is where Udhayam Oils is set up. We have been processing different kinds of oils here for a while, and the machinery has a rhythm that you eventually stop hearing. The floors can get a bit slippery if we aren’t careful, so we are always moving around with sawdust or mops. It is a very practical place. We have large drums lined up against the walls and small bottles ready for people who just want a little bit for their cooking. A lot of folks from around Cheyur Road bring their own containers, which we like because it saves us the trouble of finding more bottles. The sun hits the front of the shop pretty hard in the morning, so we usually sit a bit further back where it’s cooler. We spend a lot of time cleaning the presses and making sure the seeds are dry enough before they go in. It’s not the kind of work where you stay clean, but it feels good to see the clear oil coming out of the spout. We don't have any big signs or advertisements. People just know where we are by the scent and the sound of the motor. It’s a steady life, day in and day out, making sure the local kitchens have what they need for their daily meals.