I was born and raised in south India, but living stateside for the last couple decades. Cooking is a passion and a form of relaxation for me after a stressful day. I like spending a lot of time and money, sourcing the best ingredients and preparing spices and masalas from scratch.

I found Reluctant trading looking for fresh pepper. When I saw that they also carried pre-ground spice mixes, garam masala and curry powder, I was skeptical, especially since it was made by someone named ‘Scott’. But I was so happy with everything else that reluctant trading has on their sit,. I decided to give it a try.

And boy was I wrong. Turns out being good at what you do and craftsmanship does not necessarily belong to one ethnicity or color.

Indian masalas with the same name can have a wide range of flavor profiles made by varying the kinds of ingredients and their proportions. I really like Scott’s versions, especially their curry powder. Most traditional Indian recipes do not have a generic curry powder, other than garam masala. But I like using Scott’s curry powder when the recipe calls for something other than masala or I’ll add it to alter the flavors and aroma a bit.

Try it and you won’t regret it.

I was truly excited when I saw this product existed -- the Bollywood Theater pork vindaloo is one of my all time favorite dishes, and we never order enough. With this, it's a problem no more! The recipe was straightforward, and the results were so similar to the restaurant it's practicually indistinguishable. Don't worry, Chef MacLarty, I'll still be visiting for the Bhel Puri and beets!

Perfect

I love the garam masala from Reluctant Trading. My chicken curry comes out delicious and even my friends from India commented that my curry tastes authentic. I am a repeat customer on this spice mix and recently ordered 3 at one time lol. Try it; it’s such a better blend than most store brands that are very cinnamon forward. Reluctant Trading: be prepared for another order from California for garam masala soon!

Love these spices! So fresh every time!