Vel Spices

Vel Spices is a small business we run out of Thiyagadurgam in the Kallakurichi district. We have lived here all our lives, so it made sense to start something local. We mainly deal with different types of spices that we get from the nearby markets. The work is pretty repetitive but we don't mind it. We spend the days drying the spices in the sun and then grinding them up. The smell in our workspace is very strong, especially when we are doing the red chillies. It makes your eyes water if you aren't careful. We have two old grinding machines that have been with us for a long time. They make a lot of noise, but they are reliable as long as we keep them oiled. Thiyagadurgam is a quiet place for the most part, except for the local market days. We don't have a big shop with glass windows. It is more of a workshop where people can come and buy what they need directly from us. We pack everything in simple bags and weigh them on a small scale. My cousins help out during the harvest season when there is a lot more to process. We don't have any big plans to expand or move to a bigger city. We like it here in Kallakurichi. It is an honest way to make a living, and we know our neighbors. We just keep the spice grinders moving.