Kai Murukku, a traditional south Indian savory snack made from rice flour. They are super crunchy and absolutely delicious, known for their shape. Flavored with cumin seeds and asafoetida, it goes very well as an evening snack with a cup of tea and coffee.

A snack that originated in Tamil Nadu, ‘murukku’ means ‘to twist’ in Tamil. It is made from semi-solid dough, which primarily consists of rice that is deep fried. Manapparai, a town in Tiruchi district, is famous for the snack.

Although murukku contains, at the most, five ingredients, it is not easy to make. For, that perfect murukku depends on a lot of factors, the most important being the kai pakkuvam (deftness of hand) of the maker. Legend has it that the color of the snack depends on the maker’s disposition. It is elongated and rolls around in an extremely large coil.

What about the significance of murukku in the Hindu culture, the largest religion in India? There is Gokulashtami.

Gokulashtami is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. One key offering of the festival is a platter of murukku, containing only savory murukku. This is because it signifies purity and sturdiness, from the texture and flavor of the murukku. Other than that, it is a daily snack for anyone to munch on & has a secret charm of its own. 

Now try our authentic & traditional Kai Murukku from the kitchens of Old Madras!