When it comes to Indian food, not only the traditional recipes hold a sentimental value. There are also cult brands that remain well loved by many Indians, especially those who no longer live in their home country.
They still remember the snacks they enjoyed during their summer vacation in Gujarat or those treats they had at the Punjab home of their cousin. They have favorite brand names that they learned from the narrated stories of their grandparents or from the desi jingles that they can still hear in their ears.
Needles to say, memories of Indian food last for a lifetime.
But whether you are an Indian who misses your country, or you come from another ethnicity but are curious to try Indian food, here are some of the favorite Indian drinks and snacks you can buy from Indian grocery stores in Los Angeles:
Amul Butter
Did you know that Amul was launched in India a year before it earned its independence? Since then, it remained as the country’s leading dairy brand. The butter that is rightly salty, golden, and smooth remains as the favorite go-to product for breakfast lovers and bakers alike.
This brand has become so iconic that it rarely advertises on mainstream media. Well, there is really no need for them to do so since the company ranks sixth in the butter market of the world.
Frooti
It is very uncommon to meet an Indian who doesn’t love mangoes. This is why it is not a surprise that this particular mango-flavored drink is extremely popular not only in India but even overseas. Frooti was the country’s first-ever drink that was made available in PET bottles.
Launched back in 1985, it marked the first time that Indians got their hands on bottled fruit juice within the country. To this day, desi parents continue recycling Frooti bottles and use them for storing everything from lemonade to other.
Haldiram’s Aloo Bhujia
A type of fried flour snack, bhujia looks like broken noodle shards. Its width is similar to that of vermicelli, and you can sprinkle this on other Indian foods such as chaat or savory canapes and even turmeric-hinted and potato sandwiches.
Its value increased further when bhujias come from the Haldiram’s, the 80-year-old company that produces an extensive selection of other amazing snacks such as pickles, papadams, and potato chips.
Parle G
Parle G is among the top selling brands of biscuits not just in India but even across the world. Considered to be at part with the Oreo brand, this non-cream biscuit enjoys a cult status among desis around the globe and it even tastes so much better when paired with a glass of milky chai. If Australians have Tim Tams, Indians have Parle Gs, a delightful treat that they eat and continue to eat whatever their age might be.
MDH Spices
All Indian dishes, including drinks and desserts, contain different spices that are responsible for their core flavors. Although traditional Indian cooks opt to prepare their spice blends from scratch, MDH makes things easier and simpler. This 102-year-old brand offers pav bhaji mix prepared through combining pepper, coriander seeds, and dry mango powder.
Don’t forget to add these snacks and drinks to your cart the next time you go shopping at an Indian grocery store!
