Homecooks in Thiruvananthapuram are championing artificial additive-free jams, preserves, juice, ethnic eats and more

Homemade jams, concentrates, preserves made with fresh produce, capture essence of Kerala’s seasonal fruits

Homemade with fresh produce, these jams, concentrates and preserves are not the run-of-the-mill sweet spreads that pass off as fruit treats in the market. These fruity treats capture the warmth and sweetness of the sun and the rain in glass jars.

Made without preservatives, artificial colours or flavours, these homemade delicacies celebrate the fruit in myriad forms. And in Kerala, there is some fruit or the other that is in season.  In addition to native fruits such as banana and jackfruit, several new ones such as dragon fruit, mangosteen and rambutan have found takers here. Many of the fruits are preserved as jams, marmalades, pickles, fruit concentrates and more.

Concerns about artificial additives have pushed many customers to buy local, from enterprising home cooks who have turned their passion for cooking into micro-enterprises.

Here are four home-cooks who have a steady clientele for their homemade brands.

Sip on freshness with Preethi Abraham’s orange-lime or ginger-lime, two of her top-sellers. Preethi’s homemade food had always won her compliments from her children’s friends thanks to the treats she packed for their school lunch. When Preethi’s daughter became pregnant, she began making fruit concentrates that did not use artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. Friends and family fell in love with the orange lime and ginger lime squash that she made. Motivated by her mother and aunt and people requesting her for her preservative-free fruit concentrates, she decided to start selling them on a small scale. That was four years ago.

“My brand Homemade Treats blends my passion for cooking and my commitment to healthy food. What began in my mother’s and aunt’s kitchen has a loyal customer base now,” says Preethi.

Orange lime, ginger lime, passion fruit juice and grape are much in demand. She makes all the juice concentrates at home with the help of her domestic help. Since last year, Preethi has added sugar-free gooseberry with kanthari (bird’s eye chilli) and sugar-free ginger-lime with kanthari to her product menu. “Many who are trying to control their sugar levels wanted me to make something they could have without feeling guilty. That is how I made this healthy drink that can be mixed with water or soda. Or used to make a smoothie or a cocktail!”