The Natural Taste Of Vegetables

We spoke to Amit Karki about his journey to organic food across cities in India and how he likes shopping with I Say Organic.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.

My name is Amit Karki, and my family has three people; my wife, my 12-year-old son and me. I work in publishing at the S Chand company. We’re originally from Delhi but moved to Bangalore for 3 to 4 years and came back last year.

Did you decide to organic with us? Or were you already on the journey?

Oh, we were already on the journey. We have been eating only organic food in Bangalore; for maybe three years now? All our veggies, fruits, flour, lentils – everything was organic from one shop there.

Was there a conscious decision taken to go organic?

Four years ago, my mother was diagnosed with liver sclerosis. Allopathy took her to the point of steroids, which means that things temporarily get better, but you don’t have a permanent cure. So we decided to try Naturopathy and Ayurveda – and after a year or so, she got better. Seeing her come back to life – changed my perception of these two sciences, and I decided to read as much as possible about them.

So Naturopathy and Ayurveda led you to organic eating?

Yes, absolutely. Eating organic is a more accessible, daily way to stay healthy. Through my research in Naturopathy and Ayurveda, I studied what to eat, how to eat it, when to eat it, and even where to eat it. And organic food seemed to fit the bill in every way.

Could you share some of your insights from Naturopathy and Ayurveda?

I give lectures on these subjects to teachers, NGOs, etc. – and I put down I Say Organic’s website on the board. Homoeopathy, Ayurveda and Allopathy offer treatments. When you’re ill, you go to the latter two. But Ayurveda and Naturopathy are the only ones that don’t just cure diseases but also prevent them and make you healthier. We think that by boiling food, pesticides or chemicals are eliminated. This is untrue. Food that is grown with chemicals ends up causing cancer, blood pressure and lifestyle diseases.

Was it hard leaving behind regular food?

You know, people don’t understand the dangers of chemically-grown food. All those pesticides, germicides and weedicides…we just don’t comprehend their damage to us. Chemical food has a medicine-like smell. You only understand vegetables' actual, natural taste when you go organic. You realise that whatever non-organic food you’ve eaten all these years was a waste.

What was your first organic experience?

We started with a fundamental aim – we switched to jaggery from sugar. Sugar is evil for you – and our goal was to consume jaggery instead. At the time, the only place we found jaggery was at an organic shop, and we started buying it from there.

What differences did you notice with organic food?

A huge difference. The smell, the taste, the look – everything is different. For example, when you use lauki or tori or bitter gourd – regular veggies when boiled, you can’t tell which is which – there’s no difference in taste. With I Say Organic veggies, once you chop the veggie in the room, the room is filled with its aroma. It’s that fresh! And even in 1 spoon of the cooked food, you can tell veggies apart.

Have you noticed a difference in health after going organic?

A huge one. Our immunity is better. We don’t visit the doctor for small things, and home remedies are enough to cure us of colds and minor ailments. We are very fit with just light exercise and simple eating. My son has tons of energy and is constantly on the go.

When did you start shopping with I Say Organic?

I think about September of last year when we returned to Delhi. So say about a little over a year now. It’s been a good journey. I’d been looking for an excellent place to buy from and had experimented with a few places over two months. But people in Delhi are less conscious of organic food and its benefits, and thus, I wasn’t thrilled with the quality I was getting. I kept looking and, one day, found I Say Organic which is providing organic food products online. I’ve been delighted since.

What are the positives of I Say Organic?

We order things every week – fruits, veggies, cooking oils and jaggery. While your product speaks for itself, I have to make a special mention of your organic jaggery – it is of excellent quality! My last order was a massive 10 kg for other family members and me. I’d say your most significant strengths are your professional approach and that you’re very serious about what you do. The home delivery option is also convenient. Your guys are unfailingly polite and on time. It’s imposing. I’d also like to mention your packaging – I appreciate that you don’t use polythene. It is incredible that you even pack your produce so well when sending it.

Would you recommend I Say Organic to people?

I already have! I believe so much in it that I think I have influenced at least 40 or 50 people to go organic through my lectures and talks. People always ask me how I verify the authenticity of any food – and I say just chop or cook. I Say Organic veggies, and you will know – your senses tell you how fresh the food is. Also, your introductory kit that you used to hand out was just amazing – it spoke about your certificates, authenticity and more and was impressive.

What’s been your most amazing I Say Organic experience?

The mangoes. We bought them like anything! I think it was the first time as a family, we were fighting over the last mango! When you feel what you consume from your heart, it’s incredible!

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