Ancient Grains, Timeless Curries: Southern Spice, Taj Coromandel, Chennai Celebrates Forgotten Recipes of the South

The “Forgotten Recipes of the South” festival at Southern Spice, Taj Coromandel, Chennai is a beautiful culinary tribute to South India’s heritage. Running from July 7–21, 2026, it revives heirloom grains, rustic curries, and traditional sweets that have quietly faded from everyday kitchens.

Ancient grains & millets:
- Thinai Paniyaram with coconut-chilli chutney
- Ragi Mudde with Uppu Saaru

Rustic curries (Gramathu Kuzhambu):
- Kalyana Veetu Paruppu Urundai Kuzhambu (sun-dried lentil dumplings in tamarind gravy)
- Kongunadu Pallipalayam Chicken (dry-roasted with shallots & red chillies)
- Chettinad Kaalan Varuval (forest mushrooms with black pepper)
- Konaseema Chepala Pulusu (murrel fish curry)
- Malabar Chemmeen Manga Curry (prawns with raw mango & coconut milk)

Ancient rice varieties:
- Kaivara Samba Biryani (woodfire-cooked)
- Navara Kanji (medicinal red rice gruel)
- Mapillai Samba Pongal (ghee & pepper enriched)
- Kuzhiyadichan Choru (claypot rice layered with vegetables & coconut)

Traditional sweets:
- Kavuni Arisi Halwa (black glutinous rice halwa)
- Ragi Simili Urundai (palm jaggery & sesame sweet).

Experience
- Served in an ambience adorned with brass vessels, handwoven mats, and cold-pressed oils.
- Traditional refreshments like Neer Mor, Panakam, and filter coffee in davara-tumbler.
- Story cards with each dish narrating its cultural origins.

This festival is more than dining — it’s a culinary chronicle that reconnects guests with South India’s timeless food traditions, from millets and medicinal rice to village-style curries and sweets.

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