Andhra Pickles: Relishing the Flavors of Vellanki Foods
Andhra Pickles: Relishing the Flavors of Vellanki Foods
THEDESIFOODMay 8, 2024
The Indian culinary scene is dotted with a large number of regional cuisines, each with its unique flavors and traditions. Andhra Pradesh, a state situated on the south-eastern coast of India, is renowned for its vibrant and fiery cuisine. Andhrites are known to love spicy dishes. At the heart of this cuisine is the humble pickle, a condiment that elevates any meal with its tangy, spicy, and sometimes sweet burst of flavor.
Their story begins with a simple desire – to share the authentic flavors experienced during childhood summer vacations with the wider world. Inspired by their grandmothers' recipes, Vellanki Foods uses time-tested techniques and generations-old wisdom to create their signature pickles. For over 25 plus years, Vellanki Foods has focused on a single objective – to bring back our grandmothers’ recipes and introduce them to a new generation.
Back in 1989, they noticed a shift in households. As more mothers entered the workforce, the tradition of making homemade pickles and powders began to fade. Recognizing this trend, they decided to take action.
Starting small in Hyderabad, Vellanki Foods embarked on a mission to reintroduce their ancestors’ flavorful chutneys and spice blends. They began offering these traditional condiments to their customers, allowing them to enjoy the authentic taste of Telugu cuisine without the hassle of preparing these time-consuming dishes themselves.
Initially, they started selling these traditional condiments to select people. It allowed them to savor the flavor that enhances Telugu meals, all without having to make the complex and time-consuming dishes themselves! Soon, their products became available all over the world.
Andhra pickles are a distinctive part of the state's culinary identity. Unlike their North Indian counterparts, which often focus on slow fermentation, Andhra pickles are known for their use of fresh ingredients, quick pickling methods, and generous use of red chilies. This results in a vibrant, tangy, and fiery flavor profile that tantalizes the taste buds.
Vellanki Foods offers a diverse range of Andhra pickles, each with its unique character. While all Andhra pickles are spicy, they are so popular owing to the special ingredients and the unique fruit and vegetables used in them. Their spice blends make every product special.
Mango Pickle: The king of Andhra pickles is the mango pickle. Vellanki Foods offers various styles, including grated mango pickles, mango pickles with garlic, and sliced mango pickle. Each variation captures the essence of perfectly ripe mangoes, carefully blended with a mix of spices that add heat, tang, and depth of flavor.
Lemon Pickle: Vellanki Foods' Lemon Pickle features whole or sliced lemons bursting with citrusy goodness. The pickling process infuses the lemons with a touch of heat and tang, making them a perfect accompaniment to rice dishes or as a palate cleanser between bites.
Drum Stick Pickle: Vellanki Foods' Drumstick Pickle is a unique pickle that utilizes immature drumsticks, which are chopped and pickled with a medley of spices. The outcome is a crunchy, slightly bitter, and flavorful pickle that enhances meals with an exciting textural contrast.
Vellanki Foods' Grated Mango Pickle: This pickle also known as Mango Thokku, is a lip-smacking condiment that captures the essence of perfectly ripe mangoes in a fiery and flavorful blend. Since it is a grated variant, you can use it as a topping on rotis or parathas as well.
Mango pickle with garlic: Vellanki's Mango pickle with garlic offers the best of both worlds- the tangy taste of raw mango infused with the burst of garlic flavour. It makes any dish all the more tasty and awesome.