The word “seeragam” was something that I only equated with the cumin seed. When my mother asked me to accompany her to check out the newly opened store called seeragam featuring eco friendly, organic and natural products, we just assumed that it was named after this very ingredient.
The word “seeragam” was something that I only equated with the cumin seed. When my mother asked me to accompany her to check out the newly opened store called seeragam featuring eco friendly, organic and natural products, we just assumed that it was named after this very ingredient.
But after meeting Gowri, the name took on a whole other meaning. Just as we learn to join and separate words in Tamil class at school, she simply stated that 'seer+agam' meant balance + body and when put together was “seeragam”.
The words appealed to her because she is passionate about living life the way nature intended us to.So in order to find the right balance for the human body to thrive in a harmonious manner, Gowri along with her partners Jagadeesh and Parthiban has set up a one stop shop for all things that are derived from nature. That and the fact that whenever she mentioned the name apparently people smiled. A catchy name is one way to garner attention for sure.
On first glance from the road, it’s easy to miss the rustic sign that displays seeragam in the vernacular. As one ventures inside, various earthy elements catch the eye. There are bamboo poles used in every which way possible; from cladding shelves to bordering display tables and wind chimes, the theme is continued through all the rooms. The aesthetics in every room including the painted walls have been worked on painstakingly by the owners. The shop is unpretentious and well organised.
Fresh produce sourced from known farms is displayed in the first room where the billing is done. It was lovely to see stalks of vibrant spring onion with the blossoms intact. The perishable produce comprised of a variety of fresh vegetable and locally grown fruit.
The inner chambers are fitted with wooden shelves neatly stacked with the dry provisions. While some ingredients are labelled and packed in brown paper bags,the table in the middle was another sight altogether. For someone who delights in seeing ingredients displayed well,the large glass jars filled with different nuts, natural rock candy, aromatic cinnamon, dried black peppercorns, nutmeg, mace etc, were truly impressive. The many indigenous rice varieties are also displayed in an attractive manner.
A smaller shelf to the side has small glass bottles filled with vegetables that were pickled at home by women who have no opportunity to retail their wares elsewhere. Other than the usual mango, tomato and lemon pickles it was great to see pickles made with pirandai, bittergourd and ginger with tamarind. All the while as we walked about and looked around we enjoyed making conversation with Gowri.
Not only is she careful about where she sources all the products but also puts in a great deal of effort to educate herself about the traditional methods used in making the different ingredients be it the panam kalkandu, the procurement of sea salt or anything else that she may have come upon during her trips when searching for the best products. That’s what makes a venture like this so authentic.
The fact that the owner cares not just about her business but also about doing right by the consumer. Simultaneously they are also allowing for traditional practices to thrive and offering a unique platform for selling the same. She sources her products from all parts of India and her enthusiasm is quite contagious.
They have oils, shirts, dhoties, glass bottles, toys …all of which conform to the same mindset; ‘chemical-free/pesticide-free/bio-degradable’. They have a counter at the entrance which will soon be open for business selling healthy drinks and snacks.We tried some delicious thattaimurukku made with red rice and karuppu ellu urandai which had a chewy consistency because of the ragi that was added to it. A must try if you like ellu urandai.
Gowri then directed us to a small passage like space on the side. It’s a quaint seating arrangement set aside for her customers to relax and browse. The entire area is decorated with natural materials and artifacts that she found discarded by the roadside. We’re talking beautiful boulders, grinding stone, baskets and even natural jute. The books displayed along the wall are literary works that appeal to the same thought process as that followed by the owners at seeragam.
Not only would we recommend a visit to this place, an interaction with the owner is equally uplifting. We really could use more such people who have the ability to translate their vision in a manner that benefits so many. The quality of the products are good and worth the trip, prices are reasonable and among the many things that we brought home, I look forward to tasting the pavakkai urugai!
Seeragam - The Native Store
27E Bharathi Colony
Peelamedu
Coimbatore-641004