Famous Food Markets: Khari Baoli Spice Market

Did you know India is responsible for 75% of the global spice production? 75 per cent! Two-thirds of the entire supply of spices comes from us. Ancient India was a treasure trove of jewels, spices, silk, and many more. Many foreigners have invaded India and robbed it of its possessions, and through those invasions came the discovery of spices by the rest of the world. The first ever spice that was traded with the East India Company among many others was Cinnamon. In the words of Vir Das, "Cinnamon. That's what led to 200 years of oppression".

Image via Flickr by Jon Connell

I have talked about the world's largest fish market that exists in Japan- The Tsukiji Fish Market. Now, it's our turn. India is home to Asia's largest wholesale spice market that exports to many foreign countries around the globe- Khari Baoli Spice Market. Situated right in the capital city of Delhi, the Khari Baoli spice market is located near the iconic Delhi Red Fort adjacent to the Fatehpuri Masjid on Khari Baoli Street. This market is a major part of the charm of Old Delhi, and it has been operating since the 17th Century.

What does this name mean? The word "Khari" means saline or salty, and "Baoli" means step-well. Wikipedia says that it was called the salty step-well, and the foundations for this step-well were laid during the reign of Islam Shah (son of Sher Shah Suri) and it was completed in 1551. Now, there is not even an ounce of water near the entire market. But, the market came up around the Fatehpuri Masjid, which was built in 1650, by Fatehpuri Begum, one of Shah Jahan's wives.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

This market is not just limited to selling spices, they also sell rice, tea, dry fruits, nuts, herbs, food and many more. You can see large sacks of dried red chillies being carried out by the workers, as Instagram influencers, photographers, videographers, and tourists make their way through the narrow paths of this busy street coughing at the top of their lungs due to the pungent air. According to News Nine, The market opens from 10 am to 9 pm. Various spices and spice mixtures are available here, and many of the wholesalers freshly grind spices and sell them in packets for various uses. Many of them are willing to even offer advice concerning the nutritional and medicinal benefits of the various spices and dry fruits.

Delhi is a place that is enriched and filled with history, and this market is no exception. There are over 2,000 wholesale shops in the market. Many of the shops that are found here are family-owned shops which are run by the 9th or 10th generation. Many of the shops on Khari Baoli are still known by their serial numbers such as "Chaiwale 13", "21 number ki Dukhaan", etc. One such shop that stands out in all of the market is "Harnarains". Harnarains is a pickle/achaar shop that started in the Khari Baoli market in the 1860s, and they have been serving the nation for over 150 years! They have slowly expanded and built their business adapting to modern times. (but they claim that their recipe is the same). These pickles are so popular that apparently, they made their way onto the tables of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to Smt. Indira Gandhi.

Image via Flickr by svenwerk

But as of 2023, an article by the Patriot says that the physical infrastructure of the market including road, sewage, electricity, and parking awaits solution and development. People who work at the market have migrated from nearby villages to work there and they sleep on the carts only after taking painkillers. This is due to the condition of the roads which cause a lot of physical stress for the cart-pushers. Khari Baoli is one of the 5 major markets in Delhi that is part of a redevelopment plan that is yet to take off. Hopefully, in the coming times, we will see a much better infrastructure.

This market is a major tourist attraction for people all over the world. Many photographers and influencers come there to capture the beauty and hustle of the market. People say that the view is amazing from the terrace of the street, and it is worth it just to go for that. The driving point of this market for culinary enthusiasts is to find inspiration when they roam these streets filled with the most unique aromas that you cannot find anywhere else in the world. In the age of online shopping, it is quite refreshing and different to buy ingredients where you can feel the quality of them directly.

Never been to Delhi before and if I go there, I know the first thing that I am going to do.

That's it for this time.

See you next- that's right! Next week there won't be any article coming up, I am taking a one week break and we will be on with our regularly scheduled programme after that. I will be back in 2 weeks with even better things to yap about, till then. BYEEEE!