Karma Masala

Out here in Toshina village, near the Shiv Mandir, things move a bit slower than in the big cities. Karma Masala is a small place where we make the spice blends that people in this taluka have used for generations. We don't use big industrial machines that take the flavor out of everything. It’s mostly small-scale work, grinding and mixing by hand or with simple tools. You can usually hear the work going on if you’re walking near the temple. We get our ingredients from the local markets and sometimes directly from the growers when the season is right. The shop itself is simple, just a counter and shelves filled with bags of powder. We don't spend money on fancy labels or plastic packaging that just ends up in the trash. We prefer keeping it basic so the price stays low for the neighbors. Sometimes the dust from the spices makes everyone sneeze, but that’s part of the job. People stop by on their way to the temple or after working in the fields to grab what they need for dinner. We know who likes their chili extra hot and who prefers more coriander in their mix. It’s not a complicated business, but it’s important to the people who live here. We’ve been at this spot for quite some time now and don’t plan on going anywhere else. It’s just us doing what we know how to do.