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When a person travels, they collect memories. But when a food enthusiast travels, they collect local ingredients that can help revive and relive the stories of their journeys through food. Traveller's Pantry is a series by Slurrp through which tourists travelling across the states of India will find indigenous gems that they can stock up on, take back home and learn more about India’s regional cuisines. This series will walk you through some of the best ingredients that India’s states have to offer, especially through the experienced hands of local chefs, experts and vendors, taking you on a true culinary safari of the nation.
Prayagraj, formerly known as Allahabad, is a revered pilgrim centre for Hindus in Uttar Pradesh. It is also referred to as the Sangam City where holy rivers - Ganga, Yamuna, and Sarswati - confluence to flow as one. The city’s air is dense with devotion as Maha Kumbh 2025 has begun on January 13, and it will culminate on February 26.
In one and a half months, the Sangam city is reportedly expected to welcome and cater to around 45 crore people, a number larger than the population of many countries across the world. Makeshift tents, community kitchens, and several other arrangements have been made to make pilgrims feel at home and be one with God.
Video Credit: Allahabadi Halwai/ YouTube
Whether you will be in Allahabad in the next 45 days to participate in Maha Kumbh 2025 or explore the city of education, tourism, and culture, tasting local food should be at the top of your itinerary. From lip-smacking chaat dishes to kachori sabzi for breakfast, Prayagraj is heaven for gastronomes who crave creamy and spicy Indian delights.
While you can indulge in the local food, your brain keeps circling back to what you will bring home. There are souvenirs that you can purchase but nothing appeals to fellow foodies as much as locally-sourced dishes and ingredients.
Slurrp connected with Rakesh Roy and Mohit Roy, restaurateurs and owners of Elchico Hotels & Restaurants Pvt Ltd.; Sunita, handling online sales of Hari Ram & Sons; Aradhana Tripathi, HR Admin, SR’s Pickles; and Mohit Gupta, owner of Yathartha Sweets. This guide tells you what foods to buy and where to get them from in Allahabad.
Dry Snacks
If you want to carry home the flavours of Allahabad, you should purchase a dry snacks blindfold. Ask any local, and they will tell you to buy these savoury delights from Hari Ram & Sons, a renowned show that has been a part of the city's foodscape since 1890. You will only find delicacies prepared with desi ghee, and some of them have a shelf life of even 6 months. Rakesh Roy and Sunita recommended purchasing masala samosa, dal moth, khasta kachori, khatta chana, mota sev, etc.
Shop Name: Hari Ram & Sons
Address: Loknath, 16, Chowk, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 211003
Number: 7897389457
Price: Rs 640/ kg for khatta chana, Rs 640/ kg for masala samosa
Spice Blends
Allahabad is not famous for dry spices, but you can surely buy spice mixtures that make the local food taste delicious. One of the shops where you can get your hands on dum aloo masala, sabzi masala, and kachori masala is Hari Ram Purwar Papad & Spices. Using these blends, you can recreate Allahabadi recipes at your home without the intervention of a local chef. What can be a better souvenir for culinary enthusiasts in your city?
Shop Name: Hari Ram Purwar Papad & Spices
Address: 362, 145, Jogighat, Katehra Dariyabad, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 211003
Number: 9335121973
Price: Rs 70-95/ 100 grams of spice blends
Baked Goods
Rakesh Roy and Mohit Roy take pride in Elchico Hotels & Restaurants Pvt Ltd., a brand that runs a vegetarian restaurant, multi-cuisine restaurant, and bakery shop (The Baking Co. by El Chico). The brand has been synonymous with delicious food and cosy ambience since its inception in 1964. Among a few things that you must buy from this confectionery include brownies, cakes, cookies, and more. They don’t add any preservatives, and many of these items can remain in your pantry for more than a week.
Shop Name: The Baking Co. by El Chico
Address: 142, 32, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Civil Lines, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 211001
Number: 9415128975
Price: Rs 100 onwards
Sweets
According to Rakesh Roy and Mohit Roy, Prayagraj is also the city where you can satisfy your sugar cravings by indulging in crispy jalebi with fresh curd for breakfast. But you cannot take this delight home for your friends and family. Rakesh Roy suggested visiting Bhagwan Das Prahlad Das & Sons to purchase gond ka ladoo, motichoor ladoo, dry fruit ladoo, and besan ka ladoo. This shop is also one of the oldest in the city.
Shop Name: Bhagwan Das Prahlad Das & Sons
Address: 126, 2, KP Kakkar Road, Zero Road, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 211003
Number: 8853888877
Price: Rs 220 for motichoor ladoo
Pickles
According to Mr Rakesh Roy, if you are coming to Allahabad, don’t forget to taste pickles manufactured in the city. Prepared in the traditional style, using local ingredients and high-quality spices, these condiments enhance the flavour of a meal by leaps and bounds. Aradhana Tripathi suggested visiting Achar Murabba Kendra of SR’s Pickles to get your hands on more than 15 varieties of pickles and fruity jams. The small packs have a shelf life of nine months while the big jars can be kept in your pantry for about 18 months.
Shop Name: Achar Murabba Kendra
Address: 68, Shiv Charan Lal Road, Bahadur Ganj, Zero Road, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 211003
Number: 0532-2240636
Price: Rs 150-200/ 375 gram for garlic pickle, mixed pickle, and mango pickle
Gajak & Rewdi
In Uttar Pradesh, gajar and rewdi are seasonal delights consumed in winter. These are also integral to the feast prepared during Lohri and Makar Sankranti celebrations. Mohit Gupta shared that these are both prepared with sesame seeds. While he uses jaggery, you can find shops selling these made with sugar. The shelf life of these is a month, and they help to keep your body warm because of sesame seeds. You can also purchase kaju dal moth and sohan papdi, both of which have a shelf life of three months, from his shop.
Shop Name: Yatharth Sweets
Address: 44, Zero Rd, Gosai Tola, Zero Road, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 211003
Number: 9305976676
Price: Rs 400/ kg for gajak, Rs 320/ kg for rewdi, Rs 500/ kg for sohan papdi, and Rs 800/ kg for kaju dal moth.
Allahabadi Guava
Mr Rakesh Roy shared that if you are visiting Allahabad in winter, you must try Allahabadi guavas. “Many people have tried, but they have not succeeded in replicating this variety anywhere else,” he added while explaining how its variety is unique and one-of-a-kind. There are two kinds - surkha (deep pink interior and red exterior) and safeda (juicy with greenish-yellow skin). You can purchase these from the local market depending on the market price.
Shop Name: Loknath Food Market
Address: Loknath Food Market, CRPM+QMM, Loknath Ln, Chowk, Malviyanagar, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 211003
Number: NA
Price: Rs 150-190 onwards
