Joe Bala Spices

Joe Bala Spices is located at 26, Nethagi Nager in Nanguneri. It is a small setup, and the first thing you notice when you walk in is the heavy scent of different ground spices. We spend a lot of our time sorting through sacks and making sure everything is packed up properly for the local shops. Nanguneri is a quiet place compared to the big cities, and our street in Nethagi Nager reflects that. We aren't a massive factory; it’s more of a hands-on operation where we keep an eye on everything ourselves. The walls have some stains from the spice dust, and the floors always seem to have a bit of a yellow tint from the turmeric. We deal with farmers and suppliers quite often to get the raw materials. Then it’s just a matter of processing and getting it into packets. Some days the heat makes the spice smell even stronger, which can be a bit much, but we don't mind it. Our neighbors know us well, and sometimes people just stop by for a small bag of whatever we have ready. We don't have a big website or a marketing department. We just focus on the quality of what we are putting into the bags and making sure the weights are correct. It’s hard work, and our hands usually smell like cloves or coriander even after we go home, but it is what we do here every day.