Both mango saffron jam and Imli dates chutney from ITC's kitchens of India range are extraordinary in taste . They both come in 320 ml bottles and cost Rs 90 a piece.
One of the best conserves I have ever used is mango saffron from Kitchens of India, though I don't use too many sweet food stuff in my diet . Even when I use it with 100% whole wheat bread I spread a layer of home made cream or butter and very mild film of the conserve.
I believe in saturates more than sugar . Not one to do a skimmed milk coffee with no cream and 3 tea spoons sugar .I do the opposite, whole cream milk .A dash of fresh cream and 2 gms sugar, ie half a tea spoon.
The date imli chutney is so thick and so rich but quite sweet as well and my defenses go up the moment I see the word sugar. Again I limit the chutney to no more than a tea spoon at one go.
Kitchens of India also sell ready to heat and eat, pre- packaged foods most of them paneer items with a very long shelf life of around 3 years . Yes you heard me right, its 3 years and not 3 months .
ITC and master chefs of 5 star hotels who make them.please tell me .no matter what the technology goes it making and packing such ready to eat meals like, dal bukhara, paneer mughlai, paneer darbari.etc .how can you extend the shelf life to 3 years .Its beyond me.
ITC claims to vacuum pack them under extremely high temperatures to extend the shelf life but than what does heat do to nutrition we all know, especially Vitamins C.
The oils go rancid or toxic with such high heat, even a photon of light btw is enough to start damaging the oil, you will find borges extra virgin olive oil in dark green bottles for the same reason .
The paneer stuff is loaded with tomatoes and an ocean of oil .Maybe that extends the shelf life . I do not know .The paneer cubes can be counted on the fingers of your hands, nothing more than half a dozen or thereabouts and don't seem fresh at all. These paneer cubes lose their softness over time .
The taste of these foods is too sour and just doesn't seem fresh, how can it when its not, take mirch ka salon for example, the oil is so substantial, it will make you pukey(nauseated).
Most of these pre-packaged foods are priced between Rs 100- 120 .and some non-vegetarian items like Chicken Chettinad even beyond that @Rs 130 .all are 285 gms net is something I forgot to mention .
ITC feels they can serve 3 people with these ready to eat packs, but even 2 will struggle in reality .
The verdict: Although the jams, conserves and chutneys are extra ordinary, the ready to heat and eat meals are a complete dismiss, I think they are so harmful to health ITC should recall them .
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