Vocal For Local
Central to the mission of Copper + Cloves is a celebration of local, sustainable produce.
When I founded Copper + Cloves, I knew I wanted to share my favourite recipes that are inspired by flavours and cooking techniques from all around the world. However I was also very clear that I didn’t want to encourage people to cook using ingredients imported expensively and at a cost to the environment.
I’ve always spent time sourcing food grown and made locally, and building relationships with producers and suppliers to understand as much as possible about their values and ethos. To mark Independence Day, I thought I would celebrate some of my favourite plant-based, small-scale food suppliers and producers, who focus on supply-chain sustainability, traditional methods and local sourcing. I couldn’t stop writing! I think there will need to be a part 2 to this blog because honestly, since moving to India I’ve been overwhelmed with the number of amazing people I’ve met who are doing interesting, inspiring things in sustainable, local plant-based food.
Nothing written about here is a paid promotion. I have never done a paid promotion nor do I ever mention a product on any platform because I am asked to. Every brand/supplier/product I mention here I have personally tried and loved, and irrelevant of how I was introduced (including sometimes being sent free samples or being offered a discount), I have become a repeat customer and have paid full price for (and continue to do so).
Some of the brands/suppliers I mention have amazing offers running at the moment, some others have offered exclusive discounts for the Copper + Cloves community. Please note that none of these codes have any earning power for me- it is simply a kind and generous offer from the supplier or brand that I am sharing with you all, because I think you may like their produce.
I couldn’t resist also offering some recommendations not just within food but a few of my favourite small, local brands in personal care, clothing and jewelry too. There are so many fantastic people and organisations doing amazing things, but these are just a couple of my personal faves!
I hope you enjoy reading about all of the amazing people, values, farming techniques, plants, processes….I could have written more about everyone featured here! There is a movement- which I feel honoured to have been welcomed into- of values-led people and businesses, that is marching towards a more sustainable future.
Food+ Beverage
Kerehaklu
The best cold brew I’ve ever tasted was a Kerehaklu single estate coffee bold cold brew. The largest avocado I have ever seen in my life (over 1kg and every gram perfectly creamy and delicious) was from Kerehaklu Farm. When people say we don’t have good avocados here or that the best coffee is grown abroad, I can’t wait to tell them about Kerehaklu. Local, sustainable produce at its best.
I have a lot of respect for Pranoy, the owner, and his amazing team- their coffee plantation is biodiversity-friendly and grown sustainably and Pranoy uses social media in a really cool way- to give information about the plantation, give updates on produce and educate us about harvesting and growing techniques. In addition to coffee and avocados, they sell seasonal mulberries, big green juicy lemons, peppercorns and enormous, tangy pomelos. You can even go and stay on their plantation!
Kerehaklu Farm is in Chikmagalur. Regular harvests available for pre-order and collection from Bangalore.
Madhavi Farms
Whenever I order from Madhavi Farms I am genuinely impressed with how fresh and vibrant the greens and how plump and delicious the vegetables are- and all of their produce is 100% organic non-GMO and grown in a healthy aquaponics system right here in Bangalore. Mind-blowing. My favourite regular orders are the moringa leaves, the romaine lettuce and the heirloom tomatoes. Produce comes bundled in banana leaves and tied up with string which you can imagine I go nuts for.
Delivery is Bangalore wide.
Mention Copper+Cloves when you WhatsApp message Madhavi Farms and get 10% off on your first order.
Ph. no: +91 96204 40881
The Organic World
My go-to everyday store. This is where I do most of my shopping- it is a one-stop shop with a thoughtfully curated range of certified organic products, from fresh produce to organic staples to organic personal and home care products.
I love The Organic World for a few reasons- firstly they work closely with farmers and help them to build up their knowledge of organic farming techniques and they pay fair prices to ensure a dignified livelihood. Secondly, they have a range of zero-waste staples, so you can take along your own jars or bags and stock up on a range of dals, rice, oils, nuts and raisins. I really appreciate initiatives like this which make it easier for me to shop zero-waste, something I am committed to but can be difficult to do.
The Organic World has stores all over Bangalore and you can buy everything online with home delivery.
To celebrate independence day The Organic World are running a 20% discount on all certified organic fresh fruits and vegetables for a min value of Rs. 500 until 24th August!
The Culinarium
I was lucky enough to travel to Conoor just before the world changed and lockdown kicked in, and I visited The Culinarium - which is a lovely small scale farm selling incredible fresh produce including heirloom carrot varieties of all colours, the sweetest beetroots and fat, fragrant lemongrass. The range of produce available is small and specialised. Call me basic, but there is something really exciting about seeing purple, yellow and black carrots, light pink and yellow beetroots- these are traditional varieties that have been developed and passed on by farmers over generations, but that we don’t see because the market focuses on hybrid varieties with higher yields and uniform appearance.
They also have cafes serving delicious, homely food and an unbelievable range of vegan ice-creams.
The Culinarium are happy to offer a 10% discount on your first order by sending a DM on their Insta page or sending Nazli a Whatsapp message. Produce needs to be picked up from their Bangalore store.
Nazli: +91 99723 03627
Spudnik Farms
I subscribed to Spudnik Farms in Feb 2020 after meeting Sumeet the founder at Fit Bengaluru. The concept is that you pay a monthly subscription fee, and each week you receive a box full of fresh produce. You don’t know exactly what will be in the box, but it is always a well balanced mix of greens and different types of heirloom vegetables (meaning they are traditional varieties that are adapted to growing in local conditions and are open pollinated, which allows farmers to save seeds rather than having to keep buying hybrid ones. The sustainability and support of Farmers is central to Spudnik’s philosophy). The quality of the produce is outstanding. I actually love it on Wednesday’s when my box arrives I open up everything to see what is inside! It’s exciting to see the unusual varieties of greens and treats like speckled butter beans and black cherry tomatoes (an heirloom variety), and there is absolutely no plastic packaging anywhere in the box.
This type of subscription model is called community-supported agriculture (CSA) - Spudnik farmers are all small and medium scale and they get a fair price for their organic produce. Because you don’t exactly select what is in the box, you get what is ready and freshly harvested, allowing farmers to sell the produce in line with the natural rhythms of farming.
Spudnik are offering 10% off your first subscription when you sign up! Reach out today on 9545649085 to discuss your needs and understand the different options. Spudnik have a number of different types of boxes to suit the size of your household and requirements, and deliver across most of Bangalore.
Green Apron
Namrata, the Founder of Green Apron, is passionate about different varieties of mushrooms. Her mushrooms are visually stunning - look at these pink elms that look like unfurled roses- and they have an earthy, umami flavour. I try and get a blend of the elm, oyster and shitake and then I saute them in a little olive oil with fresh herbs and pile on sourdough. Or I make veg ramen (she also sells dried mushrooms which I use to make a deeply savoury stock, and add in the rehydrated mushrooms too). Who wants the recipe?
As well as mushrooms, she has a small range of locally grown vegetables and I particularly love the greens- I order pak choi, kale and morning glory whenever available. The produce that is available changes from week to week which is always a good sign.
This is a small scale, truly locally and ethically run business delivering across Bangalore.
Green Apron are offering a 10% discount off your first order- just mention Copper+Cloves.
Happy Healthy Me
Happy Healthy Me is one of my favourite online organic stores, they stock some really unique products. They have an absolutely delicious range of nut butters (the almond butter is SO good!), including one of the only non-imported tahini brands that I am aware of. They also curate some really cool blends of natural products- the ‘harvest beans’ are a blend of lots of different types of beans (variety of plants people!) and are amazing for making a protein-rich dosa batter and a Mediterranean bean stew (recipe coming soon). I love their coconut butter which is a really good ingredient for vegan baking and desserts. They also sell quinoa grown here in India.
Their organic credentials are bulletproof, and their packaging is all recyclable or biodegradable. The founders Namu and Misha are lovely and care deeply about promoting locally grown produce. They currently have a sale on their website and ship across India!
India Hemp & Co
Honestly the India Hemp & Co trail mix- a blend of different seeds including hemp seeds- is permanently on my table alongside my salt, pepper and hot sauce- it’s the fourth condiment. I sprinkle it over everything from sabzis to salads, smoothie bowls to tray bakes to add extra flavour and crunch- and it’s such an easy way to supplement my diet with omega 3s and 6s and added protein.
I work out most days and my protein powder is always hemp- it’s less processed than other plant-based protein powders, has no additives or sweeteners at all, and has a great nutty flavour. It works particularly well in a smoothie with with banana, peanut butter and cacao powder.
Founded by sisters Jayanti and Shalini, I was so happy when India Hemp & Co formed last year, bringing a range of products made from locally grown hemp in all of its forms with no preservatives and no plastic packaging. Hemp is grown here in India, at the foothills of the Himalayas. As a crop, Hemp grows to its full size in just 3 months and it can be used to grow between crop cycles which ensures that the farmers have a steady income coming in all year round. Hemp needs very little water to grow and the production of hemp is carbon negative, which means it absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere during its growth than is emitted by the equipment used to harvest, process and transport it
India Hemp & Co are offering a discount to celebrate Independence Day- enter the code copperandcloves at checkout and get 10% off. They ship across India.
Mason & Co
I am a chocolate person and consider myself to have eaten a lot of chocolate. Mason & Co chocolate is as good a bar as I’ve tried anywhere, with some unique flavour pairings that I really love. My favourite flavours are sourdough and sea salt, zesty orange and the new coconut mylk bar is insanely good. The 85% dark is amazing- I use it to make vegan brownies as well.
The other awesome thing about Mason & Co is that they have an amazing range of cacao products for cooking and getting creative with. My regulars are the raw cacao powder and sweetened cacao nibs which feature in our raw cacao cheesecakes and smoothie bowl recipes.
Mason & Co use the best quality, ethically and locally sourced cacao (grown and processing all happens in South India) to make all of their products. It’s rare for chocolate to be made in the same country as where the beans are sourced and normally all the ‘value creation’ is in a Western country. Mason & Co ensure that traceability and transparency are at the core of their sourcing. It’s a brand I’m really inspired by, and proud to eat and promote!
Mason & Co are offering a 10% discount on orders of their raw cacao products (powder, butter and nibs) if you mention copperandcloves at checkout on their website! Valid until the 22nd August. Shipping across India.
Mossant Fermentary
Everything these guys ferment is delicious and unique. The kombucha is bomb- really dry and fizzy which is how I like mine. I really love their kimchi and honestly the sun-dried tomato pesto is just flavour-town. It’s such a diverse, interesting range of fermented products - probiotic treats for the tastebuds and your gut microbes!
Their packaging is beautifully designed too.
Use code COPPERANDCLOVES20 at checkout to avail 20% discount on orders of Rs. 650 and above! For delivery in Bangalore.
Ph. no: +91 86600 26886
Sourhouse
When I first moved to Bangalore 4 years ago, people always asked me what I missed about London and I always answered quickly- good bread and pavements. I couldn’t believe my luck when Sourhouse opened- truly high quality sourdough and delivered all around Bangalore. My favourites are the seeded loaf and the dark loaf (100% wholewheat). Sourhouse also brew a lovely, delicate kombucha.
The loaves come wrapped in paper simply stamped with their logo, and the yummy kombucha comes in glass bottles.
Angelo’s Vegan Cheese
I am so thankful to Aditya (middle name Angelo) for learning how to make such unbelievable vegan mozzarella. It actually looks like balls of buffalo mozzarella and it is creamy and delicious- and then there’s the olive oil and basil marinade. It’s such a versatile ingredient - you can spread it onto sourdough (for me with roasted cherry tomatoes, avo and pesto), or cut into slices with tomato slices and capers (see below) for a modern caprese (and I pour the marinade directly out of the jar onto the top). A new favourite use is as the star ingredient in vegan shakshuka (to replace lightly poached eggs as per this photo). My dairy-loving friends can’t get enough it either.
We’re lucky to have such amazing vegan cheese in Bangalore, and the packaging is zero-waste (and really on-point style wise also)
Available to order in Bangalore from the link below, collection is required.
Ishka Farms
Capers are little tangy flavour bombs that are traditional in Mediterranean cooking. They have a really unique piquant flavour - you can scatter them over a salad, grind them up with herbs into salsa verde or use to add favour to a rich tomato-ey stew (I make a lot of European-style stews. It’s one of my staple base-recipes for batch cooking. So I need ways to keep them interesting. Capers is one way.)
When I found out that capers, which I had previously believed you could only buy imported from Europe, were being grown here in South India, I was delighted! Ishka Farms have a range of capers of different sizes. Try them!
Place your order from their website, they deliver across India.
Health on Plants
I found it really difficult to find tofu that I was willing to buy before I discovered Health on Plants. Most tofu is imported, and made with GMO soy. But tofu is an amazing, fermented protein-rich ingredient and is fantastic for cooking with! So I was always on the lookout for anyone making tofu locally, and with sustainable credentials.
Health on Plants tofu is made in small batches from beans organically grown here in India, and it’s all non-GMO soy. My favourite product is the Himalayan black tofu, it absorbs the flavour of whatever marinade or spice powder that I smother it with, perfect as part of a Buddha bowl, stir fry or stew.
Health on Plants deliver across Bangalore
Non-food
Shop Lune
Simple, gorgeous, handcrafted jewelry that I have been a fan of ever since they came to Bangalore for a pop up at Blue Tokai. I don’t wear heavy jewelry, I prefer delicate (yet noticeable)- and I am really drawn to almost everything they design. Lune use Indian jewelry techniques to craft celestial inspired jewelry designs that feel really modern yet timeless.
As a company they are committed to creating and sustaining artisanal jobs, with a team based in Goa and Mumbai and everything is handcrafted locally
You can buy online and they deliver across India.
March Tee
I really love the shape and feel of these simple t-shirts. They are soft and breathable and the classic shapes and muted colours are so on-point. This Pune-based t-shirt company keep it simple and I was grateful to be introduced to their products really recently- and wanted to share the love!
Bundu Textiles
Bundu textiles only make one thing, and that’s kaftans (and now masks also). Passionate about hand loomed textiles, these stylish, simple kaftans are beautifully made, and have pockets! I wear mine all the time and always get lovely comments on it. The kaftans are made in India, with a focus on ethical sourcing and handcrafting.
Delivery across India. To order, DM on Instagram.
Ikkivi
Ikkivi is a platform run by women, passionate about sustainable fashion and mindful living
They bring together ethical designers and their products are made consciously with sustainable fabrics, using traditional skills and techniques. I found some really gorgeous, breezy tops and dresses on there and often find myself browsing. I’d recommend checking it out!
Delivery is across India.
Core Designs
I love my simple muted grey top from Core Designs. It goes with everything and the soft, matte yet silvery grey is my favourite colour of anything I own. Their stuff is made with eco friendly fabrics, made from natural or recycled fibers. I like Core Designs because their aim is to change the way people perceive slow fashion, making it accessible, wearable and affordable. Every fabric is created with natural fibres, so you'll find chic pieces made out of eucalyptus, rose petal, aloe vera, and even banana (with cotton as a binder)!
Delivery is across India
Tailor And Circus
Comfy, breathable underwear. I love their body positive campaigns and the sustainable fabric. I have the lounge bra and can’t believe how soft and cozy it is, perfect for working from home!
Rooted Objects
A platform of beautifully curated homeware, clothing and personal care. Whenever I’m looking to buy a special gift I browse Rooted Objects! They are committed to finding products that come from a place of responsibility and consciousness, thoughtful living. They invest their time to find small, local brands and this ensures they only stock quality, durable, sustainable and relevant designs.
Rooted objects ship across India.
Personal care
Bare Necessities
I can’t tell you how much I am inspired by Bare Necessities- Sahar the founder and her amazing team are the embodiment of an organisation led by its values and conscious living. Their supply chain is zero-waste. The accessibility of their products as well as their focus on guiding and supporting everyone to be more mindful of their waste has shifted something in me to make me way more conscious.
I love the dry shampoo- I don’t have time to wash my hair every day, and I scatter some of this powder onto my roots to keep my hair looking fresh between washes and post-workouts. Also, they sell a tongue scraper, which for me is now a daily morning habit. I use Bare Necessities beeswax wraps daily to cover dishes of food before storing in the fridge- completely reducing the need for plastic wrap.
Moringa What
Moringa is an amazing native plant that I love cooking with- moringa leaf and peanut sabzi is one of my favourites. Beyond being nutritious to eat, Moringa What ethically handcrafts moringa products. Dried leaves are powdered and can be added to your favourite green smoothie, but the product I’m really into is the hair and body oil. I stopped using moisturisers when I realised they were full of ingredients I wasn’t sure about, and that body oils were the answer to my concerns. I really noticed a difference in my skin using the Moringa What body oil.
Moringa What products are made in small-batches in collaboration with small-holder farmers in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and West Bengal in India.
Shipping across India
Pahadi Local
The apricot oil smells incredible and is another body oil I can’t get enough of. And they have this natural face cleanser which is basically just salt and it really works with my skin. I’ve found it hard to find all natural cleansers that work for me so this was a really great find for me. All of the ingredients in their products are grown in the Himalayas and are as close as possible to their natural state.
They ship across India
Learn more about eating and living well…
Celebrating the best of local producers, brands and artisans, with a special shout out to the plant-based brands!