IFINDFORU THE SECRET MIX POWDER EXPOSED

[curryhell]

Does anyone know if the ingredients are listed on the pack of the Japlur Garam Masala? I'm tempted to have a go at roasting some whole garam masla spices and grinding them to see what I can come up with.I brought a packet of this ages ago,I wonder how it would compare??

http://www.spicesofindia.co.uk/acatalog/Indian-Food-TRS-Garam-Masala-Whole.html#aISW012_2dp

Hi jb.  breakdown of ingredients are in this thread along with some other makes as well.  Would be great if you could achieve something close to jalpur

[martinvic]

It's

[George]

Does anyone know if the ingredients are listed on the pack of the Japlur Garam Masala? I'm tempted to have a go at roasting some whole garam masla spices and grinding them to see what I can come up with.I brought a packet of this ages ago,I wonder how it would compare??

I fear you'd have your work cut out for you in trying to match, let alone improve on, the aroma of some of these commercial blends. Well, for the first few minutes the pack is open anyway. After 1 week (max) you may as well throw the rest in the bin, the shelf life is that short.

Also, did you study much in the way of permutations and combinations in Maths at school? The number of ways of roasting a little, roasting medium, roasting a lot, or not roasting at all for perhaps 20 spices would run into huge numbers when taken together with all the options on quantities. It may have taken the manufacturers decades to come up with the best mix.

[curryhell]

Does anyone know if the ingredients are listed on the pack of the Japlur Garam Masala? I'm tempted to have a go at roasting some whole garam masla spices and grinding them to see what I can come up with.I brought a packet of this ages ago,I wonder how it would compare??

I fear you'd have your work cut out for you in trying to match, let alone improve on, the aroma of some of these commercial blends. Well, for the first few minutes the pack is open anyway. After 1 week (max) you may as well throw the rest in the bin, the shelf life is that short.

Also, did you study much in the way of permutations and combinations in Maths at school? The number of ways of roasting a little, roasting medium, roasting a lot, or not roasting at all for perhaps 20 spices would run into huge numbers when taken together with all the options on quantities. It may have taken the manufacturers decades to come up with the best mix.

So we'll decide it's a no hoper before we start George, shall we?  And people wonder why progress is slow when such a positive attitude prevails.  I'm sure jb would be doing plenty of research into garam masalas long before spices got anywhere near the pan and the results would be somewhere near half decent before we even got to hear about them.  This is all part of the learning curve and we all set our own.  If we all constantly p****d on other people's fires all the time this forum would become a wasteland which would be a huge injustice to all the hard work done by so many over the years including yourself.  But it does now need some new ipetus.  And as a senior member you should be encouraging this.  If you can't then try to temper the negativity a bit eh?.

[curryhell]

I got my garam masala today,it's very fragant indeed-I can certainly detect cloves in there somewhere.There's no comparison to my rather bland Rajah garam masala.I remember when I had my take-away lesson the Manager was keen to show me(and let me smell) their own home made garam masala.I'm sure that amongst the vast array of Patak's pastes this is one of the things a lot of places actually do make from scratch.

I think you're right jb.  This is probably one of the few things that a chef does to make his dishes unique.  Alot of asian women i know make their own garam masala as taught by their mothers which was handed down etc etc.
If he doesn't make his own he takes a commercial brand  and tweaks it to make it his own.  Ifindforu says that Jalpur has the smell and taste but he is quite open in saying that the chef also knows what to add to another garam masala to closely replicate Jalpur.  Some people have interrpreted his comments as though every BIR up and down the country use it.  Cost wise it is more expensive but i suspect it is better quality than many others.  I hope more people are able to try it.  Personally i like what it adds and will continue to use it as my stock garam masala.  Boy, is it pungent or what?   Use with caution i think

[Peripatetic Phil]

What would that be, around ?1.50 for 100g Phil?  If so colour me interested.  Martin

I think it would be a little more than that, Martin :  the base price is about

[martinvic]

Yes apologies Phil, it was just a quick calculation in my head to get some idea.

Still would be interested in getting hold of some to try out.

Thanks
Martin

PS have you had a look here?
http://www.masti.co.uk/Foods/FoodProduct.aspx?productid=9441&sid=244

[Peripatetic Phil]

PS have you had a look here?  http://www.masti.co.uk/Foods/FoodProduct.aspx?productid=9441&sid=244 

Yes, succeeded in registering, but not in checking out : their s/w seems dysfunctional at the moment, but it would be a cheaper source if I could manage to order from them !

[George]

PS have you had a look here?  http://www.masti.co.uk/Foods/FoodProduct.aspx?productid=9441&sid=244 

Yes, succeeded in registering, but not in checking out : their s/w seems dysfunctional at the moment, but it would be a cheaper source if I could manage to order from them !

Here's another negative comment from me - what a useless website (masti.co.uk). I didn't even get as far as registering. It came up with some really weird error message. If they can't even get that right, what hope is there of them actually delivering anything.

Actually my previous post was a positive warning that trying to copy a brand name spice mix would not be easy. I didn't say it can't be done. Good luck to anyone who wants to try.

[CurryCrazy]

I have to agree with George. To reproduce an existing commercial brand is futile. Spend a couple of years doing it by all means, but what is the point - just buy it! (or have many hours of fun trying... depends what stage of life you are at  . Have fun with it I say)

If every BIR chef in this country has  spent many years (minutes ordering Jalpur online!) concocting a similar GM, then sending it back to Jalpur,(then ordering back from Jalpur!)  then the secrets out.........
If the GM on it's own, or Eastern star chinese curry powder  : is not the big SECRET!  (Quelle surprise!),  then, lets stop arguing all the time,  like my Children did all over Christmas!!!!!

Monkey see, monkey do! (It's the way MALE humans work).....

Watch it being made, make 1 yourself..... spread the word.( All from scratch!!) .......Hijack a Chef if ya can.........it's the only way.

It might be the end of the world this year, but ...lets just make one good BIR curry at home before we go!!!!!!!


Cheers

Phil

PS ..... I do not care about the chemistry of a curry, If I can make it at home .....Happy Days :-)


Edited...

Must remember which forum I'm on......others are much more ......liberal.

I sincerly apologise for the bad language.....won't happen again.