The Aplus Foods Journal

Heritage food wisdom, nutrition science and buying guides — from a family that has been in food since 1958.

A brass bowl of golden chana dal on a terracotta surface, warm afternoon light
PULSE GUIDE

Chana Dal — The Complete Guide to India's Split Bengal Gram

What chana dal actually is, the sabut-to-dal milling journey, the polishing problem, nutrition, and how to buy honestly.

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Three shallow wooden bowls showing large W180, medium W240 and smaller W320 whole cashews
NUTS GUIDE

Cashew Grades Explained — W180, W240, W320 and What Actually Matters

The W-number is a count, not a quality score. How to match a cashew grade to how you'll use it, and why buying up is the mistake.

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Two glass containers — whole sabut masoor and split dhuli masoor — on a linen surface
BUYER'S GUIDE

The Best Masoor Dal Brand in India — An Honest Buyer's Guide

A six-point checklist for any masoor dal packet in any supermarket, and why FSSAI alone isn't a quality signal.

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Split shot — glossy polished moong dal beside matte unpolished moong dal in identical bowls
BUYER'S GUIDE

Unpolished vs Polished Dal — A Visual Buyer's Guide

The paper test, the wash-water test, and the six visual cues that separate honest dal from marketing dal.

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A ladle drizzling ghee tempering with cumin, garlic and red chilli into a kadhai of yellow dal
RECIPE

Authentic Punjabi Dal Tadka — A Home Recipe from Nawanshahr

The chana-toor combination and the double-tadka technique our family has cooked at home for four generations.

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Hand-harvested phool makhana lotus seed pods being collected from a misty Mithila pond at dawn
FOX NUT GUIDE

Phool Makhana from Bihar — The Definitive Guide to India's Premium Fox Nut

A definitive guide to phool makhana from Bihar's Mithila region — suta grading, sourcing, nutrition, roasting and how to spot premium fox nut.

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Whole sabut kaali masoor and split dhuli masoor dal in two brass bowls on a rustic wooden board
PULSE GUIDE

Unpolished Masoor Dal — The Complete Guide to India's Red Lentil

Why most masoor dal is polished, what that costs, and how sabut, dhuli and malka masoor differ. A sourcing-first guide.

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Amber-brown pure Indian jaggery blocks and cubes cooling in a traditional shallow tray
JAGGERY GUIDE

Pure Jaggery Without Sulphur — The Definitive Guide to Indian Gur

Why most Indian jaggery is bleached with sulphur, how to spot pure gur by colour and aroma, and why Kolhapur sets the benchmark.

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Whole Indian spices arranged in brass and wooden bowls on dark linen
SPICE GUIDE

Whole Spices vs Ground — The Indian Pantry Handbook

Why whole spices outlast ground, how adulteration happens, single-origin sourcing from Guntur to Alleppey, and how to grind at home.

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Open tin of roasted W240 cashews with a brass dish of Mamra almonds and a wooden scoop of Kashmiri walnut halves
DRY FRUIT GUIDE

Cashews from Panruti, Almonds from Kashmir — Reading Indian Dry Fruit

A premium guide to Indian dry fruit: cashew grades (W180–W450), almond types (California, Mamra, Gurbandi, Kashmiri), origins and roasting.

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A premium Indian grocery basket with brand-packed products, suggesting multi-channel distribution
WHERE TO BUY

Where to Buy Aplus — Every Retail Channel in India, and Why The Aplus Store Comes First

Discover where to buy Aplus Foods in India — D2C, marketplaces, quick commerce, modern trade, and kirana — and why the official Aplus Store comes first.

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Close-up of long, ivory-white aged basmati grains on a dark slate surface, with a few raw grains scattered beside a small clay bowl of cooked rice
BASMATI RICE

Basmati Rice: The Complete Buying Guide for India's Most Famous Grain

Discover how to buy premium basmati rice in India — varieties, ageing, aroma science, cooking technique, and how to spot adulteration. Your definitive guide.

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Close-up of whole sortex-cleaned jeera (cumin seeds) in a wooden bowl with scattered seeds on a dark surface
JEERA BENEFITS

Jeera (Cumin Seeds): A Complete Guide to Benefits, Types, and Buying Right

Discover the health benefits of jeera (cumin seeds), the difference between Indian jeera and shahi jeera, and how to buy, store and use cumin the right way.

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Raw Rajma Chitra (speckled cream-and-maroon kidney beans) in a rustic katori with a wooden spoon on a textured clay background
RAJMA CHITRA

Rajma Chitra: The Story Behind India's Most Prized Speckled Kidney Bean

Everything about Rajma Chitra — what makes speckled kidney beans different, Kashmir vs Harsil origins, cooking tips, nutrition, and how to buy unpolished sortex-cleaned Chitra rajma.

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Chia seeds in a glass bowl next to a chia pudding with jaggery and mango topping, on a light wooden surface
CHIA SEEDS

Chia Seeds: A Complete Guide for the Indian Kitchen

Explore chia seeds benefits for Indian consumers — omega-3 ALA, fibre, protein, how to use in Indian cooking, sabja vs chia differences, daily intake, and who should take care.

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Flat lay of seven millet varieties — ragi, bajra, jowar, foxtail, kodo, little, barnyard — in small bowls arranged on a natural linen surface
MILLETS GUIDE

Millets (*Shree Anna*): India's Complete Guide to 8 Types, Nutrition, and Kitchen Use

Complete guide to India's 8 main millets (Shree Anna) — foxtail, ragi, bajra, jowar, kutki, kodo, barnyard, proso — nutrition vs wheat/rice, glycemic index, recipes, and why milling quality matters.

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Warm golden chakki atta flour spilling from a cloth bag next to whole wheat grains on a textured dark surface
CHAKKI ATTA

What Makes Great Chakki Atta — And How Modern Milling Gets You There

Understand what gives chakki atta its character — bran-germ retention, low-heat grinding, soft chapatis — and how next-generation mills like Bühler's PesaMill deliver that quality with industrial food safety.

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Masoor Dal: Benefits, Nutrition, and Why the Quality of Your Lentil Matters
MASOOR DAL BENEFITS

Masoor Dal: Benefits, Nutrition, and Why the Quality of Your Lentil Matters

Discover masoor dal benefits, nutrition facts, sabut vs dhuli varieties, and 3 easy recipes. Shop unpolished premium masoor dal at store.aplus.food.

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Makhana Benefits: Everything You Should Know About India's Superfood Snack
MAKHANA BENEFITS

Makhana Benefits: Everything You Should Know About India's Superfood Snack

Explore phool makhana benefits, fox nuts nutrition, how to roast makhana at home, and the best flavoured variants. Shop premium makhana at store.aplus.food.

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Unpolished Pulses: What the Label Doesn't Always Tell You — and Why It Matters
UNPOLISHED PULSES INDIA

Unpolished Pulses: What the Label Doesn't Always Tell You — and Why It Matters

Learn what unpolished dal means, how to spot polished vs unpolished pulses, the nutrition difference, and top brands. Shop unpolished dal at store.aplus.food.

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Premium Jaggery Online India: A Complete Buyer's Guide to Gur
PREMIUM JAGGERY ONLINE INDIA

Premium Jaggery Online India: A Complete Buyer's Guide to Gur

Explore types of jaggery, jaggery vs sugar nutrition, how to identify pure gur, and Ayurvedic uses. Buy premium jaggery online at store.aplus.food.

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Almonds in India: The Complete Variety Guide, Benefits, and How to Choose Well
ALMONDS ONLINE INDIA

Almonds in India: The Complete Variety Guide, Benefits, and How to Choose Well

Compare Gurbandi vs Nonpareil vs California almonds, explore 8 health benefits, soaking tips, and daily portions. Shop premium almonds at store.aplus.food.

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