KOTHAR JOURNAL
When you order from KOTHAR, your food is not simply picked from a shelf of pre-packed boxes. Here is what happens between placing your order and receiving food from the Himalayan pantry.
You may have seen the words “Packed to Order” while shopping on KOTHAR. But what does that actually mean?
It is quite simple. KOTHAR does not pre-weigh every product and leave finished packets sitting on a shelf waiting for someone to buy them. When your order comes in, the required quantity is taken from the stored batch, weighed, sealed and prepared for dispatch.
That small difference changes the way the whole process works. It is also why KOTHAR generally ships orders within 2–3 days rather than promising same-day dispatch.
The idea is simple: food is stored as a batch, and the quantity needed is prepared when an actual order comes in.
“Packed to order” means the quantity you order is weighed and sealed after your order comes in — rather than being pre-weighed and left waiting on a shelf.
Why Doesn’t KOTHAR Pre-Pack Everything?
Traditional mountain food does not always come from large uniform lots. Many KOTHAR products come from small family-grown batches from places across Upper Shimla and Kinnaur.
A current batch may have a specific village or valley attached to it. For example, KOTHAR's Local Rice comes from Jubbal in Upper Shimla, while Local Pahadi Rajma comes from Kalpa in Kinnaur.
Keeping the product connected to its batch and source is an important part of the KOTHAR model.
What Happens When You Place an Order?
Your Order Comes In
Your order tells KOTHAR exactly what product and quantity needs to be prepared.
The Quantity Is Taken
The required quantity is taken from the stored KOTHAR batch.
It Is Weighed
The ordered quantity is carefully weighed according to the size selected in your order.
It Is Sealed
Once the required amount is prepared, it is sealed and made ready for dispatch.
Why Does KOTHAR Take 2–3 Days to Ship?
Because the order is prepared after it comes in.
Instead of keeping every product pre-weighed and ready in multiple packet sizes, the required quantity is taken, weighed and sealed after the customer places the order.
This means there can be a little more preparation time before your parcel leaves KOTHAR.
For customers, the important difference is that the packing process is connected to the actual order rather than relying entirely on a shelf of pre-packed quantities.
A Simple Example: Local Pahadi Rajma
Take KOTHAR's Local Pahadi Rajma from Kinnaur. The product is associated with Kalpa, Kinnaur, and is prepared for the customer's order.
So if you order a particular quantity, the process is not simply about picking up an already-labelled packet from a shelf. The required amount is weighed and sealed for the order.
It Applies to Grains Too
The same principle applies to products such as Local Rice. KOTHAR's Local Rice is associated with Jubbal in Upper Shimla and is prepared as part of the order process.
This is especially relevant for small-batch mountain foods, where knowing the source and season of a product can be more meaningful than simply knowing its category.
Packed to Order Is Not About Being Faster
“Packed to order” does not mean your parcel will necessarily leave on the same day.
The idea is different: prepare the quantity when there is an actual order instead of maintaining a large shelf of pre-packed quantities.
For a small Himalayan food business working with seasonal batches, that distinction can help keep the packing process connected to the actual order.
Does Packed to Order Mean Freshly Harvested?
Not necessarily.
“Packed to order” describes when the product is packed, not when it was harvested.
Different Himalayan foods have different seasons and storage requirements. Grains, pulses, nuts, dried fruits, ghee and other pantry foods may already have been harvested, processed or stored before you place your order.
The important part is that the ordered quantity is prepared and packed according to the order rather than simply being a pre-packed unit waiting on a shelf.
From the Kothar to Your Kitchen
The word kothar refers to a traditional storage space where food is kept for the household.
KOTHAR takes inspiration from that simple idea of keeping food as part of a household pantry and taking out what is needed when it is needed.
Today, the journey may end in a kitchen far away from the mountains, but the connection between the food, its source and the pantry remains important.
Food comes from Himalayan families and specific locations, is kept as a batch, and is prepared for you when you place an order.
Explore the Himalayan Pantry
Kinnaur
Local Pahadi Rajma
A traditional Himalayan pulse sourced from the mountain region of Kinnaur.
View Rajma →Upper Shimla
Local Rice
Mountain-grown local rice connected to its Himalayan source.
View Local Rice →Explore the Pantry
See What KOTHAR Has to Offer
Explore grains, pulses, dry fruits, ghee, honey, oils and other traditional foods sourced from the Himalayan region.
Shop KOTHAR →Frequently Asked Questions
A packed-to-order box may take a little longer to leave the hills. But the idea is simple: take what is needed, weigh it, seal it and send it on.
