Chandra Prakash Spice

Up here in Shimla, near the Sbm Office, we run Chandra Prakash Spice. It’s a small shop and workshop where we spend our days dealing with all kinds of seasonings. The air in our place is always sharp with the smell of chilies, turmeric, and cardamom. It’s enough to make anyone sneeze if they aren't used to it. We do everything on a small scale. We source the whole spices, clean them by hand, and then put them through the grinders. It’s a slow process because we want to make sure no stones or dirt get through. My family has been doing this for a while now. We don't have a big factory or a fleet of trucks. Most of our stuff is sold to local shops or people who walk in from the street. During the winter, when the snow starts falling in Shimla, things get a bit quieter, but we still have plenty of work to do inside. The machines need constant cleaning because the oils from the spices can get sticky. We don't have any fancy packaging with bright colors; we just use plain bags and write the names on them. It’s a simple, honest way to earn a living. We like the fact that our spices end up in the kitchens of our neighbors. It’s hard work on the lungs and the hands, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.