About a month back, I came across a fascinating article in Smithsonian Magazine. It detailed the discovery by archaeologists of bottles containing preserved cherries and berries dating back over 250 years at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. This discovery provided a glimpse into the historical practice of making preserves, which continues to be a tradition not only in the United States but also in various countries. Located just a few hours from Kochi, Kerala, Planters Treasure is a gourmet brand that is committed to sustainably reviving traditional family practices related to preserves, concentrates, ready-to-drink beverages, and extracts. Specialising in passion fruit and nutmeg fruit-based products, their delicious range of preserves is a new addition to their product line.
It all started in a mother’s kitchen, where family members would gather at their ancestral home just to taste her amazing homemade recipes. This beloved tradition was passed down from her sister and kept alive with love. In previous generations, when a girl got married, aside from following her family’s customs, she would also receive a lot of recipes from her mother-in-law. This marked the beginning of a new chapter of cooking techniques and recipes for the mother who started it all for Planters Treasure.
Her son, Joppu Sebastian, had the idea to share his mom’s delicious passion fruit concentrate with the world. Over time, he introduced ready-to-drink and preserves into their line of offerings. So, in 2015, Planters Treasure was born in Kothamangalam, with a small factory crafting these delightful treats ever since.
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While speaking with Roshini, who leads the PR efforts for Planters Treasure, she mentioned that their company was the first one to launch passion fruit preserves. During a family vacation to Europe, they observed the local tradition of enjoying breakfast preserves as a part of the culture. Inspired by this, they decided to experiment with creating their own passion fruit preserve.
Roshini stated, “When it came to using passion fruit for preserves, we faced a unique challenge due to its liquid consistency. After two years of research and development, we discovered that incorporating the fruit’s shell not only enhances the flavor of the preserves but also gives it the perfect consistency. This innovative approach allowed us to proudly establish ourselves as a 100% zero-waste company.
After the success of our passion fruit preserve, we set out to think outside the box and explore other ingredients. This led to the creation of our nutmeg preserve, where once again, using the shell proved to be a game changer.”
Take a spoonful of their preserves, and you’ll instantly taste the difference. Planters Treasure is all about quality. Made with only the finest, top-grade fruits sourced from the Western Ghats, each jar reflects the unwavering commitment to quality upheld by this gourmet brand. Roshini shared, “We hold ourselves to the highest standards, ensuring that only the best ingredients make it into their preserves. We prioritize presentation, smell, texture/feel, taste, and customer satisfaction as the core principles of selling our products.” This dedication to excellence has earned them a place in prestigious five-star hotels and gourmet stores across Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Goa, and select locations in Kochi. They also export to Europe, where the tradition of using preserves is much more widespread. The brand was also part of the G20 and Kochi Biennale.
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The factory in Nellimattom at the foothills of Munnar is 100% run by women. Many of these women come from families with longstanding ties to the company. They adhere to fair trade practices and engage in contract farming to source their products from farmers and societies. All their products are handcrafted, with 75% of the process being done by hand. After production, the workers leave their fingerprints as a mark of ownership on the concentrate bottles. They believe that the human touch adds value to a product in a way that machines cannot.
Roshini shared, “We are also committed to empowering our workforce by providing opportunities for personal and financial growth.” For instance, each woman is given financial literacy training and assistance in setting up bank accounts and taught various saving schemes. They are also educated on basic financial transactions and how to use modern payment systems like UPI. Additionally, recognising that many of these women have spent their lives in a small village, the family ensures that they have opportunities to experience city life, at least once or twice a year. Trips to Kochi and the use of the metro system are organized so that these women can broaden their horizons and gain exposure to the world outside their hometown.
“By encouraging these women to dream and providing them with new experiences, we aim to cultivate independence and a sense of freedom in their lives,” Roshini stated.
Beyond their values, Planter’s Treasure serves as an inspiring example, demonstrating that a relentless focus on quality does not hinder scalability. They meticulously hand-curate their preserves using only high-quality ingredients, resulting in an overall value defined by the excellence of their offerings. Their dedication to quality ensures that once customers experience their products, they will be compelled to return for more.
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