Before steel. Before non-stick. The kitchen was a karigari. The brass thali of Moradabad, the kansa cup of Mannar, the terracotta matka from a village fair, the iron tawa darkening with use and the karigars whose work has always sat on our table, and whose names we never asked.

A journey through India’s rich spice heritage, tracing regional flavours, ancient trade routes, and the sensory artistry that transforms everyday cooking into a deeply cultural experience.