Himachilli Red Chilli Chukh Review – Extremely HOT!

Be it the coconut chutney from down South, the tomato khejur chutney from Bengal or Muj Chutney (mooli chutney) from Kashmir – the diversity of our nation can be easily detected with regional food. 

Another regional speciality is the spicy chukh from Himachal. Made using sun dried chillies (from Chamba), this is an extremely potent and spicy condiment that goes well with just about everything including dal-chawal, parathas. These can even be used as a dipping sauce or marinade.

Here is how we rated this Himachali chukh by the brand Himalayan People.

Himalayan People Red Chilli Chukh – At A Glance

Here are a few details about the brand, its mission, vision and journey. We also highlight the products they have to offer – 

Founder

Himalayan People is a platform operated by Five Benches Promotions And Advisory Services Pvt. Ltd. in India. It was founded in 2014 by a group of friends from Himachal – Anuj Kapoor, Anand Kapoor, Nitin Bal Chauhan, Bhupinder Tomar and Mohit Kapoor. 

What’s The Brand About? 

As per their website – “Himalayan People is the home of the finest produce, foods, crafts and arts from the Himalayas. Select products that bring together the best Himalayan traditions with contemporary styles and quality standards are chosen by our team. 

We create our own products in our design lab as well as select the most outstanding work of craftsmen and artists in the Himalayan region. Most products featured here are handcrafted, by hardworking, talented locals who share in the success of our platform. 

We bring you these enduring traditions from an endearing people.”

Products Offered

Some of the products offered are – 

• Palampore teas and infusions
• Skin and body care (Soaps etc)
• Essential oils
• Hot sauces and dips (Himachilli)

What we ordered – We ordered the Himachilli Red Chilli Chukh.

How much did it cost? It is priced at Rs 185/- for a 200 gm bottle with a shelf life of 18 months.

Any other variants? It is also available in the green chilli variant, a honey-chilli variant and hot table sauces. It is packed in a glass bottle with a golden lid and an interesting graphic on top of the label.

What are the main ingredients? They include Chitrali chillies, Citrus extract (330), Mustard oil, Turmeric, Cumin powder, Carom, Edible Common salt, food preservative (211). Chitrali chillies are specifically grown in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. This is a plant based vegan product.

Himachilli Red Chilli Chukh

What were we expecting from this chukh? Hot, smokey and sour flavors. Traditionally, chukh is made using specific chillies that are sundried and mixed with gulgul/galgal (गलगल – a citrus fruit specific to Himachal region) along with oil and other spices. This should be slightly coarse and is usually oily.

So was this as per our expectations? Having tasted chukh at local Himachali homes and eating joints  numerous times, we can safely say that this is the real deal. The smokey HOT flavors of a traditional chukh are bottled and sent our way. We tried it over a week with different sides like dal-chawal, idlis, parathas and even as a marinade for a homemade chicken tikka.

What about the color and texture? It’s burnt red with a thick coarse chutney/dip-like consistency. This has a dandedaar/coarse texture where you can spot the seeds mixed with the oil and skin/outer flesh of the chillies. It has a lot of oil floating on top, so shake/stir well before use, like the pack indicates. 

Any smell? The aroma is primarily of smokey chillies followed by sourness. No off-putting smell of the oil.

Who is it for? This is definitely not meant for the faint hearted. If you’re someone who relishes the good, hot and smokey flavor of red chillies; pick this up instantly and you won’t look back on any cheap hot sauces or schezwan dips ever. Do note that this is not garlicky. So if a mix of chilli-garlic flavor is what you need, stick to your regular schezwan dips.

• Contact Number – 0091-82193 37691; 0091 9810111495; 0091 9999164260
• Email Id –  info@himalayanpeople.com
• Website – http://www.himalayanpeople.com/
• Social Media Links – Facebook 

Here are some interesting FAQs on Himachilli Chukh by Himalayan People.

Re-visit Himachali cuisine with a red, hot favorite- the chukh. Himalayan People gave us a gem in the form of a delish, fiery and smokey red chilli chukh that can be enjoyed with everyday meals and used as a dip or marinade.

If you haven’t tried authentic chukh before, this is a good option to buy and try. 

Comment below, if you have any inputs about the brand or product.

Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.