Ahmedabad: Tucked away in a narrow lane near Jamalpur crossroads, Honest Oil Depo has been delighting Gujaratis with its iconic winter delicacy, ‘Safed Tal Nu Kachariyu’, since 1944. This fourth-generation Ghanchi family business continues to craft the white sesame seed treat in a traditional wood mill, preparing it fresh before customers’ eyes and offering it at affordable prices.

A Winter Staple with Health Benefits

As the temperatures drop, kachariyu, made from ground sesame seeds, takes center stage in Gujarat’s markets. Celebrated for its immunity-boosting properties and effectiveness against cough and cold, its traditional preparation lends it a distinct and cherished flavor.

A Legacy Rooted in Tradition

The story of Honest Oil Depo began with Hasanbhai Ghanchi, who migrated from Palitana to Ahmedabad and started extracting sesame oil using bullock-driven presses. Today, his great-grandsons, Uvaish and Uzair Ghanchi, carry forward this legacy at their shop in Dhobi ni Chali, near Supreme Hotel Lane.

While the shop offers a variety of oils year-round, their white sesame kachariyu, available only from December to February, remains the standout product.

The Secret to its Sweetness

“Our kachariyu is unique because we use premium white sesame seeds and jaggery,” shares Uvaish Ghanchi. “We follow our ancestral method of reintegrating the extracted sesame oil back into the kachariyu, enhancing both its nutritional value and taste—a technique that sets us apart from modern production methods.”

Each batch is made fresh, producing 18-20 kg at a time, and is sold at Rs 240 per kg.