Coco Tier
While managing her coconut farm at her ancestral village of Valavadi, Niranjani Ramanathan decided to try some value addition. Thus was born her brand Coco Tier (Coconut Tree in French). She practises sustainable agricultural and manufactures natural sugar extracted from the theluvu of the coconut blossoms without any additives or preservatives. Her festive hamper has a delectable range of products that can be mixed and matched to suit individual preferences. For example, a 250 gm pack of coconut sugar, a bottle of sukku kaapi , a jar of vegan chocolate chip cookie mix with recipe recipe, and a pack of ready-to-eat chocolate chip cookies. The products are packaged in a jute bag or in paper bags.
Price: Ranges from ₹400 to ₹550 per hamper.
Where: 12, BR Nagar, Trichy Road, (near Alvernia School).
Call 9943603577 or 9943603577 or email cocotierfoods@gmail.com
In the green of health
Wild Wing Trust
Nature enthusiast Saravanan Chandrashekhar founded the Wild Wing Trust in 2009 to help safeguard the environment. His nursery is home to many species of native plants that not only help maintain an ecological balance but also convert parched landforms into thriving spaces of biodiversity. He has included a number of medicinal plants to his growing list of saplings. Wild Wing Trust has put together a hamper of easy-to-grow medicinal plants like lemon grass, karpooravalli , thuthuvalai , adathodai and marudhani. They come with with information about their health benefits and how to use them. Additional material like planter pots, coir pith and manure are also available for the hamper.
Price: From ₹150 upwards
Where: 277/1A , Innovspace Building, Kalapatti
Call 9488850429 or email wildwingtrust@gmail.com
Bounty from the hills
Leisure Planter
A trading company in scenic Coonoor, Leisure Planter — started by Sujeeth Mathew, Anand and Veena — showcases products from different plantations mostly in the Nilgiris. The festival hamper contains a selection of tea, filter coffee, hand-crafted chocolates, shade-dried organic herbs, and strawberry conserve. One can choose from dark, herbal and hand-blended to the best of quality white and green teas. The filter coffee has a unique blend of Robusta and Peaberry with a bit of added chicory. The finest cacao beans and cocoa butter are used to make their dark chocolates. The strawberries for the conserve are cultivated by them in a natural manner. Leisure Planter is open to customising Diwali hampers but have a minimum order requirement depending on the items chosen. THe hampers are also available at Baker’s Junction, Bedford, Coonoor.
Price: ₹200 onwards
Where: Westbury Road, Ooty, The Nilgiris
Call 9047042975 ,9843196009
A selection from Vama
Vama
The word, meaning woman, is also synonymous with ‘beautiful’. Shanthini Choudhary started this store mainly to nurture craft and use part of the proceeds to educate underprivileged. Choudhary does beautiful paper craft such as quilling, folding, and stamping, and has provided employment for several women. Revathi Kannan and she showcase vibrant wallets, mobile phone pouches, coin purses and potlis . For Diwali, they have a wide collection in different prints and bright colours to suit varied budgets. Wooden boxes with hand-quilled paper flowers hold pretty candles to add that festive glow to your home.
Price: ₹350 upwards
Where: Jampala House, 1 Thirugnanasambandham Road, Race Course Road
Call 9894040571 or email vamagifts@gmail.com
Muesli and crackers made of millets
Monsoon Harvest
By introducing a selection of millet-based muesli, Monsoon Harvest has brought about a delicious nutritional option for quick breakfasts. Owners Shrivardhan and Uma are both fitness enthusiasts and advocate healthy eating habits. Along with introducing a new range of millets flavoured with figs, dark chocolate (sourced locally) and orange, they also offer a selection of buttermilk and millet crackers. Packaged in attractive re-usable tins, these are terrific food gifts. For their Diwali hamper, they have chosen to package their wares in painted paper bags made by the children at Amaze Charitable Trust (Centre for Autism).
Price: ₹250 (one pack toasted millet muesli and one tin of crackers) and ₹500 (two packs of toasted millet muesli and two tins of crackers)
Where: 1605, Trichy Road
Call 8220557700 or email : sathees@greenlightfoods.com
A blend of fabrics, colours and textures at Upper Room
The Upper Room
A textile designer by profession, Sharon worked with export houses before her passion for fabrics, colours and textures led her to open The Upper Room. Along with patterns and weaves, her interests grew to include handcraft and she added crocheted coasters, lace-trimmed linen, hand-made fairy lights, quilted pot holders, and other knick-knacks. She sources her goodies from talented home-makers and craftspersons. Create your own hamper with brightly patterned table runners with matching napkins, festive place mats woven with a bit of glitter, bread baskets with tea napkins, oven mitts...
Price: Ranges ₹400 upwards.
Where: No.19, New Damu Nagar, Pappanaickenpalayam,
Call: 9840996122
Health and taste in one go
Anjana Tatva
Anjana Pipada Malani introduces her new range of organic delicacies called Pancha Mahabuta . These laddoo-shaped sweets are made with dried fruits, rose petals and cocoa in an array of colours. For the festive season, Malani packs them in fine handwoven decorated baskets and containers. The sweets are prepared in keeping with Ayurvedic philosophy of including different elements that contribute to health and well being. The Pancha Mahabuta ladoos include seed and leaf mixtures along with natural sweeteners like gulkand, honey, dates and figs. No refined sugar is used.
Price: ₹500 (250gm), ₹1000 (500gm) and ₹1800 (one kg)
Where: 7, Raja Nagar 2nd Street, Near Naveen Hospital, Sowripalayam
Contact 9487569433 (WhatsApp only)
