Brands vs Non-brands ; what is more reliable while on your grocery hunt?

by Shaheen Ali

Brands play an important role in today’s generation. Be it clothes, shoes, make up or even the fast food chains we go to, everyone looks for brands. However, there is a segment that prefers non-branded localized goods as well. Grocery being one of the most basic necessity of any household has several brands selling various product goods in supermarkets. Especially in the Indian market, with the number of ingredients involved in cooking a dish,
the platform is extensive.

Masalas make up the base of the flavor and taste for any dish in the Indian cuisine. There are several varieties of masalas that you can find in the market. Some of the most popular ones are dhaniya (coriander) powder, Garam masala, Haldi (turmeric) powder, Jeera powder (cumin seeds), Red chili powder and Hari Elaichi powder (Cardamom). While blending and grounding these powders together at home is a tradition in India, many people do not have
the time for the process anymore. Home ground powder is indefinitely one of the best options as it gives its authentic taste and flavor. Nevertheless, several brands have successfully been able to match up with the taste and provide a variety of masalas. Some of the most popular brands that sell masala in the market are MDH masalas, Aachi masala, MTR, Eastern, Tata, Catch and Mother’s recipe. These are just a few to name amongst the many others. You can find a few or more of these brands easily in any supermarket around you. With online shopping opening doors to many more dimensions, you can also find these masalas and any other grocery needs on bigbasket’s online store now.


On the other hand, non-branded masalas are those that are ground by yourself at home or is sold by small sellers. There are several small sized market shops in India that sell their own masalas. Although the taste and flavor may not vary much from the branded ones, the price does make a difference. If you are more concerned about the packaging and convenience, branded packet masalas are your go-to option and if you are looking to shop within a budget, do not hesitate to buy from the small vendors.

Similar to masalas, dals are also a necessary component in Indian cooking. There are several kinds of dals and whole grains used for different dishes and types of cooking. Dals are generally used to make gravies and curries. The most common types of dals used in India are the Urad dal, masoor dal, tuvar dal, arhar dal and some pulses as well. Soya chunks, a vegetable protein/ soy protein is also a common item on many Indian household’s grocery list. Nutrela soya chunks is one of the best brands that you can trust on for great quality while looking out for soya. On the other hand, whole grains not only make the rice varieties, but are also the based used for making rotis, chappatis, dosas and all your other tiffin items. For achieving the best quality of these dishes, you need to ensure that you are using high quality ingredients. Amongst branded products, Tata is one of the most trusted and popular brands for all your grocery needs. It is important to keep in mind that these products, including masalas, can easily be adulterated. Several unauthorized sellers and vendors adulterate products with unsafe additions that may cause sickness to ones’ health.


However, not all small sized vendors are involved in this practice. There are several small sellers who offer good quality and sometimes organic produce or goods as well. Thus, buying from a well-known source or trusted vendor is extremely important when it comes to these basic necessities.

Disclaimer: this is a commissioned work where the article is totally my creation and not related to any other author or subject.

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