Hirakaki Masala

Our little place, Hirakaki Masala, is at 1, Madhukunj Society. It’s right near Dr. Bhavsar Hospital, so most people use that as a landmark when they are coming to see us. The smell of spices is the first thing you notice when you get close. We spend our days grinding and mixing different powders. It’s a dusty job, and our clothes usually end up smelling like turmeric or chili by the end of the day. We started this because we knew how to make good blends that people around here liked. We don't use any big industrial machines, just the basic ones that get the texture right. The shop is small and sometimes we run out of certain things if the market price for raw spices goes too high. We keep the bags stacked along the walls. My wife helps with the packing, and sometimes the kids come in after school to help label the bags. It’s a family thing, really. We don't have a website or a big marketing plan. People just know that if they want something for their kitchen, they can walk over to Madhukunj Society. Sometimes we sit outside on the steps when it’s quiet and talk to the neighbors. It’s a humble business, but it keeps us going and we take pride in the work. It takes a lot of effort to get the spice mix exactly right every time we start a new batch.