What is Pisyu Loon?
Pisyu Loon (also called Pahadi flavoured salt) is a special Himalayan rock salt blended with herbs, spices, and mountain aromatics—hand‑ground in a sil batta by the women artisans of Uttarakhand’s Namakwali community. It brings the authentic taste of the Himalayas into everyday cooking and supports local women in remote hill villages. Namakwali’s flavored salts are sometimes referred to as Pahadi Flavoured Salt or simply “flavoured salt Uttarakhand”, and their signature mix is often called Pisyu Loon, representing Himalayan traditions and Uttarakhand flavors.
The story behind Pisyu Loon & Namakwali
Namakwali is based in a village in Uttarakhand, where local women gather Himalayan salt, herbs, and spices, and hand‑grind them on stone slabs (sil batta). They follow sustainable, natural practices — no artificial preservatives, no adulteration. The result is pure, mineral-rich flavored salt with both heritage and health.
Supporting Namakwali means supporting “vocal for local”: every pinch of salt empowers rural women and spreads the taste of Uttarakhand’s mountains to urban tables.
Namakwali’s Flavored Salt Varieties (“all flavoured salt”)
Here are all the flavored salt variants in Namakwali’s flavoured salt collection, often available in individual jars or in combo packs. This covers the “Pisyu Loon” range:
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Authentic Mix Flavoured Salt (Mix Flavour) – Himalayan salt blended with cumin, coriander, garlic, ginger, asafoetida (hing), curcumin, fenugreek, black pepper, morva leaves, green chillies, fenugreek–faran — a robust, balanced seasoning for Indian dishes and snacks.
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Garlic Flavoured Salt – Rock salt mixed with garlic, green chillies, asafoetida, carom seeds, curcumin, and more. Great for grilled veggies, pasta, raita, etc.
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Ginger Flavoured Salt – Warm and zesty ginger infused with green chillies, asafoetida, carom seed, and Himalayan rock salt—ideal for stir-fries, soups, and immunity boost.
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Hing Jeera Flavoured Salt – Earthy asafoetida (hing) with cumin (jeera), green chillies, morva leaves, coriander, and rock salt delivers digestive-friendly and aromatic flavors.
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Dhaniya Flavoured Salt – Salt infused with fresh coriander (dhania), making it herbal and soothing, perfect for fruit salads, chutneys, and snacks.
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Timur Flavoured Salt – Flavored with Timur pepper (Himalayan Szechuan pepper) — citrusy, numbing, digestive spices combined with rock salt, offering a mountain‑fresh kick.
- Gandhrain Flavoured Salt – Made with gandhrain, a rare Himalayan herb beloved for its aromatic and digestive qualities.
- Hemp Flavoured Salt – Earthy, nutty hemp seeds or herbs blended with Himalayan salt for a wholesome twist. Full of nutrients.
Namakwali offers these in combo packs:
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4‑Flavour Combo (280 g): contains Mix, Garlic, Ginger, Hing Jeera variants.
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3‑Flavour Combo (600 g): Mix, Garlic, Ginger in larger packs.
- 8‑Flavour Combo (560 g): all eight listed above in one pack.
Thus, in total, eight flavored salt variants plus combos representing all: Mix, Garlic, Ginger, Hing Jeera, Dhaniya, Timur, Gandhrain, Hemp.
Why these flavored salts (benefits & use)
Health and nutrition
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Mineral‑rich Himalayan rock salt contains sodium chloride along with calcium, magnesium, potassium, and more, supporting electrolyte balance.
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Herbs and spices offer digestion support, anti‑inflammatory and antioxidant benefits: hing, cumin, coriander, garlic, ginger, morva leaves, fenugreek, etc.
Flavor and convenience
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Each variant adds distinctive taste: garlic zing, gingery warmth, hing‑jeera aroma, citrusy timur, fresh coriander.
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Versatile usage: sprinkled on salads, fruits, raita, soups, juices, smoothies, boiled vegetables, eggs, French fries, snacks, chaats, juices, dal—just a pinch changes the flavor.
Cultural & social impact
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Hand‑made by women in Uttarakhand, preserving traditional sil‑batta methods.
- Supports rural livelihoods and sustainable, local businesses.
How to use it in your kitchen
Everyday sprinkle:
Use Mix Flavour or Garlic Salt over salads, soups, fruits, smoothies, or yogurt (raita).
Cooking twist:
Add Ginger Flavoured Salt to stir‑fries or curries for warmth and digestion.
Snacks & chaats:
Hing Jeera Salt adds depth to chaats, fruits, veggies; Dhaniya Salt refreshes slices of cucumber or tomato.
Rustic Uttarakhand style:
Use Timber Salt with grilled meats or roasted potatoes for a mountain‑fresh citrus spice.
Hosting or gifting:
The Combo packs, especially the 8‑flavour combo, let you sample all varieties—a great gift of Uttarakhand flavors, especially as a Pisyu Loon gift pack.
A day in the life with Pisyu Loon
Imagine breakfast: a cup of lassi or buttermilk with a pinch of Hing Jeera Salt. Lunch: fresh salad sprinkled with Dhaniya Salt. Evening snacks: boiled corn or roasted chickpeas seasoned with Mix or Garlic Salt. Dinner: grilled paneer or egg with a dash of Ginger or Timur salt. Every bite gives you Uttarakhand’s flavors, supporting local women.
Uttarakhand roots & Himalayan tradition
Uttarakhand is known for spices like Lakhori mirch and Pahadi herbs. The tradition of flavored salt, or Pisyu loon, goes back centuries: mixing Himalayan rock salt with herbs from mountain valleys like morva leaves, fennel, ginger, garlic, and region‑specific peppers like Timur.
Tips for homemade flavored salt (if you want to try)
If you don’t have the Namakwali product yet, you can try a small batch at home:
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Take good-quality Himalayan pink salt or rock salt.
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Add dried spices/herbs: garlic powder or minced garlic, ginger powder, ground cumin/coriander, hing, chopped coriander leaves, crushed timur pepper, hemp seeds, chopped gandhrain herb.
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Dry everything until completely moisture‑free.
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Grind together in a pestle and mortar or sil‑batta into a fine mixture.
- Store in an airtight jar. Use a little on salads, chutneys, chaats. This way, you get a homemade version of Pisyu Loon.
But manufactured Namakwali flavored salts give consistent, hygienic, traditional taste, and support Uttarakhand communities.
Why choose Pisyu Loon by Namakwali
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Genuine Himalayan-flavored salt from Uttarakhand made by local women.
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Hand-ground using traditional sil-batta, no additives.
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Eight unique flavor variants: Mix, Garlic, Ginger, Hing Jeera, Dhaniya, Timur, Gandhrain, Hemp.
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Combo packs (3‑flavour, 4‑flavour, 8‑flavour) to suit sampling or gifting.
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Nutrient-rich Himalayan salt plus herbs supporting digestion, immunity, and taste.
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Versatile in everyday uses: from fruits to salads, snacks to chaats.
- Connects you to Uttarakhand’s Pisyu Loon tradition and cultural roots.
Final word
Pisyu Loon from Uttarakhand is more than just seasoned salt—it’s a journey into Himalayan flavors, heritage, health, and empowerment. Whether you sprinkle Mix Flavour on your salad, use Hing Jeera with juices, or share an 8‑flavour combo with friends, you're tasting tradition and supporting a proud community of Uttarakhand artisans.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Pisyu Loon and how is it different from regular salt?
Pisyu Loon is a hand-ground Himalayan rock salt blended with herbs and spices like cumin, ginger, garlic, and timur. Unlike regular table salt, it is made using traditional sil batta methods by women in Uttarakhand and offers added flavor and health benefits from natural ingredients.
2. Is Pisyu Loon healthy to consume daily?
Yes, Pisyu Loon uses mineral-rich Himalayan salt combined with digestion-boosting herbs and spices. In moderation, it can support electrolyte balance, improve digestion, and enhance taste without artificial preservatives or additives.
3. How can I use Pisyu Loon in my daily cooking?
You can sprinkle Pisyu Loon on salads, fruits, soups, yogurt, and snacks. It can also be added to chaats, stir-fries, grilled vegetables, and drinks like buttermilk or lemonade for a flavorful twist.
4. Are all the Namakwali flavoured salts handmade?
Yes, all Namakwali flavoured salts are handmade by local women in Uttarakhand using traditional stone-grinding techniques. Each jar supports sustainable rural livelihoods and preserves age-old culinary traditions.
5. Where can I buy Pisyu Loon or Namakwali’s flavoured salts?
You can purchase Pisyu Loon and other Namakwali flavoured salts directly from their official website: www.namakwali.com. They offer single jars as well as combo packs (3, 4, and 8 flavours).