Khari Baoli: Old Delhi's spice market, shipped to you
Khari Baoli is Old Delhi's wholesale spice market, trading since the 17th century at the western end of Chandni Chowk. The name comes from a stepwell (baoli) that once stood here. Today the lanes are lined with sacks of chilli, turmeric and dry fruit, and shops and restaurants buy here wholesale. This guide covers what the market is known for and the spices and kits in the Taj Bazaar catalog that are ground, blended or packed there.
Ground and packed in Khari Baoli
| Product | What's in it | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone-Ground Garam Masala, 150 g | Cumin, coriander, cardamom, clove, cinnamon, black pepper, bay leaf | $12 | US stock, 1–2 days |
| Old Delhi Chaat Masala, 100 g | Amchur, black salt, cumin, black pepper, mint, ginger | $7 | US stock, 1–2 days |
| Old Delhi Street Food Kit | Chaat masala, garam masala, amchur, black salt, imli goli, mukhwas, 6 recipe cards | $39 | US stock, 1–2 days |
| Masala Dabba Starter Kit, 7 Spices | Steel spice box with turmeric, chilli, cumin, mustard, coriander, garam masala, fenugreek | $49 | US stock, 1–2 days |
| Khari Baoli Dry Fruit & Spice Box | Cashews, raisins, dried figs, green cardamom, saffron in a mango-wood box | $39 | Packed to order, 10 days |
Prices are in US dollars with duties included on retail orders.
Garam masala, the way the market grinds it
Every family's garam masala differs, but the market blend is warm rather than hot. Ours is blended and stone-ground by a third-generation spice house in Khari Baoli and packed within a week of grinding, which matters: ground spices lose their aroma fast. It is best within 9 months, so keep the tin airtight. Stir a pinch in near the end of cooking a dal or curry.
Chaat masala: the taste of Chandni Chowk
Chaat masala is the tangy, sulphury-salty blend street vendors shake over fruit and chaat in Chandni Chowk. The tang is amchur, dried raw mango; the sulphur note is black salt. Sprinkle it on cut fruit, roasted corn, salads or fries. For a sharper sour note on its own, add amchur ($6), sun-dried raw mango from Malihabad.
Kits for someone new to Indian cooking
The street food kit pairs Khari Baoli spices with sweets from Chandni Chowk and recipe cards for aloo chaat, chana and fruit chaat. The masala dabba starter kit fills the round steel spice box that sits beside every Indian stove; read our masala dabba guide for what goes in each bowl.
Dry fruit for festivals
Delhi buys its dry fruit for weddings and festivals in Khari Baoli. The dry fruit & spice box is packed there to order in 10 days, so allow for that plus shipping. For an add-on that ships from US stock, Kashmiri saffron ($24, 2 g) and Alleppey green cardamom ($15) are two spices many Diwali sweets use.
More from Old Delhi
See the other lanes in our Old Delhi bazaars guide, and Diwali ideas on the Diwali gifts hub.