If You Love Eating Pickles & Enjoy Reading, This Old Delhi Shop Is Just For You

The shop has been selling unbranded pickles and Murabbas along with magazines for about a century.

The shop has been selling unbranded pickles and murabba along with magazine for around a century.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint/Deeksha Malhotra)

Video Producer: Maaz Hasan
Video Editor: Prashant Chauhan

Walk the streets of old Delhi and you would be greeted with the country's heritage from. One of the many undiscovered treasures hidden here is KR Pickles & Murabbas in Matia Mahal Bazar.

Established before Independence, the shop has been selling unbranded pickles and murabbas with an unusual combo of magazines for close to a century.

"My grandfather, Late Laladevi Sahu, opened this shop. He was very fond of books. He used to read a lot. Earlier, many people used to read magazines. Even now people who have a habit of reading will always be fond of reading a magazine. Yes, our business has reduced a bit, but readers come from far to buy magazines," says Gaurav, a third-generation member of the family running the business.

KR Pickles & Murabbas at Old Delhi's Matia Mahal Bazar

Even in this digital era, the shop sells English, Hindi, and Urdu magazines. Gaurav says many of these magazines are popular among women.

However, the major attraction of this famous Matia Mahal Bazar shop are their pickles.

From mango to lemon, chilli, ginger, garlic – you would find a complete range of pickles with their mesmerising aroma and taste. Since I am also very fond of pickles, I tasted one of their bestsellers, the fiery green chilli pickle.

Ramavtar Sahoo, Gaurav's uncle, proudly says, "a person cannot refuse to buy our pickle after tasting it. It's our guarantee that you will not get better taste than our pickles even with bigger brands. We make best pickles and that too in natural process."

Gaurav and Ramavtar Sahoo.

"Many people who come here live in Mumbai. When they come, they say they don't get these kinds of pickles in Mumbai and request us to open a store in Mumbai. Many people call us to open stores in different cities, but we can't go anywhere."

Ramavtar Sahoo, K R Pickle and Murabbas

I spoke to the customers as well and they went gaga over the taste.

"I am 48 now and since my childhood, whenever we need pickle, we take it from here. They sell very tasty stuff, and they are very famous here. If you taste any of their items, you will definitely buy it."

Saleemuddin, Customer

When I asked Gaurav if he has any plans to do any other business or go for a regular 9-5 job, he said, "The love and support we get here is unbelievable. That doesn't let us leave. This is a Muslim locality. Hindus like us have only a few shops here. They (Muslims) give us lot of love and we also feel like serving them, treat them with good taste."

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