For the love of cooking | The story behind Unaam's yellow mustard oil

Legacy of freshness

I come from a long line of farmers, people who understood the language of the soil and the rhythm of the seasons. They knew what it took for a good crop to flourish—the right seeds, the perfect climate, and a deep respect for the land. This heritage, this intimate connection to the earth and the freshness of food, was passed down to my parents and has been a guiding principle in my life.

Growing up, our home was a celebration of food. My family, all passionate home chefs, placed immense importance on the quality of the ingredients that went into making a meal. Every other day, we would visit the local mandi, to handpick the freshest produce. Everything was cooked from scratch in our home; processed, plastic-packaged food was simply not a part of our world. As a child, I’ll admit, I yearned for the junk food my friends enjoyed. But our family had strict standards, and any deviation was a small, carefully considered one.

A shift towards the health concious journey

When I left for college in Delhi, I experienced a newfound freedom with food. I embraced it all—the street food, the burgers, the trendy cafes. But this departure from my real food came at a cost. I felt my health decline; I was constantly tired, and a general feeling of sickness became my new normal. Once, I was severely sick for 45 days at a stretch and it was a wake-up call. I realized the profound connection between what I was eating and how I felt.

This realization sparked a significant lifestyle change. I returned to the way of eating I was raised on, and with it, my energy and happiness returned. In 2017, a move to Bangalore further solidified my commitment to a healthier lifestyle. It was during this time, with a renewed focus on my well-being, that I discovered my passion for cooking. I started cooking for myself, and the more I cooked, the more I fell in love with the process.

As my hobby grew, so did my appreciation for the finest ingredients. I understood that exceptional taste comes from using the best, and that’s the philosophy at the heart of Unaam. It’s about using the freshly milled oil, the best sugar, and in time, so much more.

The philosophy of Unaam

Oil is the cornerstone of our cooking, yet it's often the most overlooked ingredient. We seek out seasonal produce, non-GMO foods, and high-quality cheese, but what about the oil that goes into every single meal? In recent years, a wave of health consciousness, largely influenced by the West, has shifted our perspective on the types of oils we should use. Unfortunately, this has led to a decline in the appreciation for traditional mustard oil. For the last 20-25 years, we have seen a decline in the availability of high-quality mustard oil in the market, and as a result, we have forgotten its true, authentic flavor.

At Unaam, I want to change that. For the love of cooking, I want people to experience the vibrant taste of real, yellow mustard oil. I want to show them the incredible difference that fresh, pure oil can make in their meals and, by extension, in their lives.

We are committed to upholding the highest standards, adhering to the FSSAI's parameters for edible oil. We mill our seeds only when they are perfectly ripened, ensuring that every bottle of Unaam's yellow mustard oil is of the finest quality, delivered to you at just the right time.