Khaane mein kya hai?

Stockist

Online guide to finding rare spices and herbs in the US for Indian and Persian cooking, including recommendations for Indian service providers who can help buy rare Indian regional cookbooks. I've found some great online grocery stores in Northern California that ship rare spices and herbs nationwide. Here are my recommendations, with botanical names included for clarity.
For your reference and convenience, I've provided helpful resources for finding rare spices and herb, but please verify and confirm the information on your own.
Burmese, Indian, and Persian (Iranian) Online Groceries
Peeli mirch (yellow chili powder) for use in Awadhi and Rampuri cuisine can be sourced here. You can purchase nagkesar (Mesua ferrea) at Kalustyan’s.
Preferred online Persian grocery provider, offering a consistent shipping rate of 7.99 USD. They maintain an inventory of frequently used Persian and Middle Eastern pantry staples, including zereshk (dried barberries) and sumac at competitive prices.
I get my culinary-grade sandalwood (Santalum album) from the Berkeley, California storefront. Their website has a variety of herbs for herbal remedies and other therapeutic uses.
Annually, I acquire the superior, grade A+, 25-gram Iranian saffron from Saharkhiz, a reputable company in North York, Ontario, Canada.
Toronto-based, Canadian online store specializing in products from Kolkata, West Bengal, India. I bought two, 25-gram vials of culinary (food grade) meetha itr, each costing 8 USD plus shipping and handling: my total came to 30 USD.
Rangoon Grocery Store
https://rangoonmarket.com
For Burmese pantry replenishment, my parents visit the physical store in Citrus Heights, California. Highly recommended! If you desire the well-known Burmese Tea Salad Mix, this is the reliable place to acquire it.
Sourcing Specific Ingredient(s)
For purchases made on Amazon US, I've listed the name(s) of the third-party marketplace sellers. These sellers have been personally vetted by me, and I've given their overall professional customer service a 5-star rating.
• Dried Vetiver Roots
Vetiveria zizanioides
Hindi: Khus ki Jad
• Dried Spiked Ginger Lily
Hedychium spicatum
Hindi: Kapoor Kachri
• Byadagi Dried Red Chillies
• Kashmiri Dried Red Chillies
• Dyer’s Alkanet
Alkanna tinctoria
Hindi: Ratanjot
Bazaar Indian Grocery
4380 Sonoma Blvd
Vallejo, CA 94589-2266
https://www.bazaarvallejo.com
(707) 644-1294
• Galangal
Alpinia galanga
Hindi: Paan ki Jad
In Awadhi cooking, I use galangal, which is commonly known as "Thai Ginger." It is typically sold in Asian grocery stores, particularly Thai grocers, in both fresh and dried rhizomes. When fresh, galangal resembles ginger in appearance. It also comes in dried slices, which are ground into powder for use in cooking.
• Golpar
Heracleum persicum
• Sumac
Rhus coriaria
Super Tehran Persian Grocery
1112 Meadow Ln
Concord, CA 94520-3706
https://shop.supertehranmarket.com
(925) 825-1500
County Square Market
136 Peabody Rd
Vacaville, CA 95687-4729
https://www.countysquaremarket.com
(707) 455-1786
• Black Stone Flower
Parmotrema perlatum
Hindi: Patthar ke Phool / Dagad Phool
Tamil: Kalpasi
Delhi Bazar Indian Grocery
1324 W Texas St #1322
Fairfield, CA 94533-5919
https://delhibazarfairfieldca.com
(707) 419-5388
Desi Outlet Indian Grocery
127 Peabody Rd
Vacaville, CA 95687-7872
(707) 724-8180
• Wild Mace / Malabar Mace / Mugwort
Myristica malabarica
Hindi: Rampatri
Marathi: Maipatri (Maypatri)
One of the compulsory ingredients of Marathi cooking. A 200-gram supply should be sufficient.
I can vouch for Silkrute. Because products are shipped from India, it takes about 14 days for arrival via USPS.
Don’t confuse the other “mugwort” (Artemisia vulgaris) with Myristica malabarica.
• Cassia buds
Cinnamomum cassia
Hindi: Kala Nagkesar
A 3-ounce supply of cassia buds is recommended. I sourced my cassia buds from Pepper Tree Spice Co. I also recommend Kalustyan’s as a trustworthy source.
Kala nagkesar is cassia buds (Cinnamomum cassia).
Nagkesar is Ceylon ironwood buds (Mesua ferrea).
Recommended Booksellers for Purchasing Regional Indian Cookbooks
I've built my modest Indian regional cookbook collection exclusively through Amazon.com and Biblio.com, with just one honorable mention of a single purchase from AbeBooks.com. While individual experiences may differ, I want to express my highest commendations and recommendations for the exceptional service provided by the third-party independent sellers on Amazon, Biblio, and AbeBooks.
The sellers share the same address, albeit under different names on separate platforms. The vast majority of the regional Indian cookbooks in my collection are sourced from Cold Books / TableTopArt.
6931 51st Ave
Woodside, NY 11377-7629
Based in New Delhi, India—bookseller Harendra Singh-ji, formerly known as Nitya Pushta Books International and Trishoolin Book House, is highly recommended.
I had previously requested custom orders for A Kitchen Full of Stories: Mappila Kitchen Treasures, A Taste of Odisha: Traditional Odia Recipes, and My Odia Kitchen.
Mewa Lal-ji is another New Delhi-based book seller.
I ordered The Chettinad Cookbook by Meyyammai Murugappan and Visalakshi Ramaswamy on March 14, 2024. Arrived on April 3, 2024, shipped via FedEx International Priority from Uttar Pradesh, India.
The packaging was done well, although there was some light rubbing on the corners. However, the spine, front, and back covers were in immaculate condition, which meets my specifications.
• Sanatkada: The Crafts Store
https://www.sanatkada.in
To place a custom order with Sanatkada, contact Saima-ji on WhatsApp at +91 70807-01510. International payments can be made via Wise to Madhavi Kuckreja, the owner and director.
Saima-ji was incredibly patient and professional, providing clear instructions for remitting payment.
The Classic Cuisine of Lucknow by Mirza Jafar Hussain
Lucknowi Bawarchi Khane: Food from Lucknow Homes by Noor Khan & Sufia Kidwai
The order was shipped on April 18, 2024, via India Post from Lucknow GPO, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Atiya Akbar-ji stocks and sells Hyderabadi Khasa: Recipes for Traditional Hyderabadi Delicacies from Begum Mumtaz Khan by Parveen Khan.
Highly recommended seller. Book arrived in brand new condition with front cover, back, and the spine in immaculate conditions.
• University Press Limited
https://www.uplbooks.com
June 20, 2024. Purchased Bosha Bhat to Biryani: The Legacy of Bangladeshi Cuisine by Niaz Zaman from University Press Limited (UPL)  as a direct-from-publisher purchase based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• Liberty Books (Karachi, Pakistan)
https://www.libertybooks.com
Purchased Pakistan Heritage Cuisine: A Food Story by Sayeeda Leghari. When paying with a VISA or Mastercard from US-based banks, use the Alfa Payment Gateway option from Bank Alfalah at checkout.
Shipment was via FedEx International Express. The book arrived in immaculate, brand-new condition within 2 business days.
↑Back to Top