In the faint light of the early morning sun, is the silhouette of Biji (my grandmother, whom I lovingly called Bimla ji) sitting at the dining table going through the first of her morning routine—slowly and mindfully, in the peace and silence of the wee hours, eating her soaked dried nuts and fruits: two figs, six almonds, six green raisins and three walnuts. Never more, never less. 

That, to this day, is my earliest and most vivid memory of badam te dry fruit (almonds and dry fruits)   

Between her and my mother, a practice was set. Mornings would begin with soaked nuts, while festivals would mean a bottomless bowl of prasad that was always a beautiful mix of almonds and the sweetest raisins. 

I can still hear her voice, calling out as she chased me every day through the house, armed with a bowlful of nuts while I hurried to get ready for work. She didn’t care if I was late, but skipping that bowl was never an option. “Pehle badam kha, baad mein tayaar hona”— ”Eat your almonds first, get ready after.” Not to forget the hours spent with her on sunny winter afternoons peeling and eating pine nuts, making pinnis with buney huey badam and kishmish, or adding slivers of almonds into our afternoon Kahwa chai.   

That was her love language—feeding us, nurturing us, and turning habits into traditions. She made sure we never forgot, because, as she always reminded us,  “Inse memory badhti hai” and “Enaan wich taakat hondi hai.”

– Ashita Arora 
Co-Founder

A young man in the pre-partition era, my great grandfather, Sewa Ram Chhabra, began an affair with nuts and dry fruits, that has now woven together four generations. In Peshawar’s iconic Qissa Khwani Bazaar where the air was thick with the sweet aroma of mewa, kahwa and gudh and where the smoky warmth of roasted peanuts lingered, he began a humble liaising business, helping retailers source the best quality dry fruits. 

The partition brought him to Cawnpore (now Kanpur), India, but with him, he carried memories of the bustling bazaar and the sweetness of mewa. And so carried on his affair, only now in a new city, a new land. It was in 1950 that he, along with my grandfather started a shop in Naya Ganj, wholesaling Indian raisins. 

At home though, nuts and dry fruits weren’t just a business; they were a tradition. In the large Chhabra household, meals stretched into long conversations with endless cups of Kahwa and platters brimming with raisins, cashews, walnuts, and almonds. No visiting guest left home without a handful of nuts and in true desi fashion,  big family occasions meant that sacks of nuts were to be shared with neighbours and distributed amongst everyone in the colony. It was a way of life, passed down like family wisdom.

Years later in 1978, a chance trip to Delhi became a new business opportunity for my father as he set up shop in the capital city and made the lanes of Khari Baoli his own. Over a hundred years on, as the fourth generation now carries on the business, nuts and dry fruits have become the very essence of life.

Prateek Chhabra 
Co-Founder

Why Us?

#1

Because quality isn’t just a priority, it is a promise. It's simple–if Biji wouldn't serve it to us, we wouldn't pack it for you.

We are the 4th generation of a wholesale dry fruit business with a 110-year-old legacy. Based in the labyrinth lanes of Delhi’s iconic mewa market, Khari Baoli, we've grown up learning how to differentiate the good and handpicking the best produce—the kind that made its way to our home and Biji’s table. 

From the finest Afghani Figs and Indian & Chinese Raisins to California Almonds and Chilean Walnuts, we sort and pack our produce for you like our Biji would have for us— with love, care and your best interests at heart.   

#2

In the whirlwind of life today, we hold on to the little rituals and habits rooted in age-old wisdom, that have been passed down to us. They make up the small moments of absolute presence and feel like a warm hug. We still soak a handful of almonds and walnuts overnight, just as Biji did. Black raisins are eaten the way she taught us, and tender figs satisfy our sweet cravings, just like they always have.

With every order and through our social channels, we share these little nuggets of life and living, the Biji way. Keep an eye out for her nuskhas and recipes. Some habits, after all, are too good to leave behind. 

#3 

If you like us, have grown up in a desi household, chances are that you have childhood stories entangled with nuts and dry fruits. You ate soaked nuts each morning. You sat peeling and devouring pine nuts on a charpai under the warm winter sun while your nani/dadi told you stories of gods and mystical creatures. You were handed a ten rupee note, a prasad of badaam and kishmish, along with endless blessings on each festival. And remember that stash of nuts and dried fruits wrapped in a handkerchief in her purse? 

We love travelling down memory lane, and we’d love for you to join us on this journey. With every bite, we hope to bring back a taste of your childhood—the warmth of being cared for, nourished, and maybe even a little spoiled.