Aruppukottai is a town in Virudhunagar district that is famous for producing yarn. Besides that, it also is home to a savory, “Seeval”. As the name suggests, seeval is a tamil term for something being scraped-off or precisely cut-off into thin/ curly slices. It is a super light in weight, sharp edged snack that has turned so many hearts into thin ice, just like it’s texture. A rich man can buy all he wants and hoard it but it is fondly called as the poor man’s staple. Including the “Aruppukottai seeval” in the Pongal Package just for the light in weight, easy to snack on factor.

Karaikudi is known for its pristine architecture and it’s Chettinad kind of vibe. Nobody can stand comparisons for the Karaikudi Athangudi tiles and the Athirasams. “When in Karaikudi, hog on some Athirasam” is a term we’ve taken pretty seriously. The flour that is made to perfection, smothered across the palm that’s soaking in pure ghee and then put into hot oil/ ghee for frying makes the whole art of making one fine athirasam. Including the “Karaikudi Athirasam” in the Pongal package just for the ‘soaked in ghee, way to our heart’ factor.

What happens when home-grown groundnuts and sweet flavours are found in tandem? It feels like heaven on earth, doesn’t it? Besides Veeralakshmi, Kovilpatti, the district in Thoothukudi also is home to a groundnut based chikki and that is world-famous! The peanuts are grown in the native black soils of Kovilpatti with such care and heed. The nuts are then de-shelled, roasted, glistened with sugar syrup and topped with wisps of finely grated coconut to form the authentic “Kadalai mittai”.

Manapparai is a famous district in Trichy known for its authentic and super-crispy “Murukku”.
Any South Indian would unanimously admit that he/ she has binged on murukku for almost all festive occasions, be it home-made or store-bought. Murukku is a staple of crispy swirls made of rice flour. Deep fried in hot oil/ ghee, Manapparai murukku is the best ingredient when it comes to festive snacking.
Including the “Manapparai Murukku” in the Pongal Package just for the crunchy, fried-in hot ghee element.

Kamarkattu or jaggery balls are an authentic snack of Pondicherry that rings of the coconut-y, jaggery-ish essence. Made extensively of jaggery and coconut, Kamarkattu is ideal for people with strong teeth. Having them between your two jaws and biting for eternities together, where can we sign a petition to make Kamar Kattu eating an olympic sport?Including the “Pondicherry Kamarkattu” in the Pongal Package just for the strong-willed and strong-toothed.

A perennially loved sweet from Srivilliputhur, the town that hoards the “gopuram”, the emblem of Tamil Nadu. Besides that, Srivilliputhur is widely known for its milk-based sweet, “Palkova”. The milk is boiled to perfection and then altered in texture, slowly cooked to form the spongy, super silky, rock-y texture of a milk koa or a palkova. The sweet melts in your mouth and is a sheer hit amidst masses with no age discrimination. Including the “Srivilliputhur Palkova” in the Pongal Package just for the melts-in-the-mouth element that leaves a sweet after-taste.

Tirunelveli Halwa is the most sorted sweet for any sweet lover dwelling down South in India. It is a sweet relished by people of all ages and for people having a high sweet-intake capability. Made of wheat berries, milk and ghee, Tirunelveli Halwa makes the best after-feast snack, dessert, starter and what not? The real taste of Tirunelveli Halwa cannot be duplicated and that is why it stands as the King of all sweets. Including the “Thirunelveli Halwa” in the Pongal Package just for the “can never be replaced by any other sweet in this lifetime” factor.

Cashew lovers, assemble. This one’s for you. A crispy, crunchy, melt n’ break in the mouth kind of a snack that is the mother of all nut based sweets in South India. Thoothukudi is a port town in Tamil Nadu known as the “Pearl city” for its coastal, pearl picking occupation. Besides selling top-notch seafood, Thoothukudi also is the home of macaroons. Made with handpicked cashews, an Indianised version of the macaroons brought into India by the Portuguese back in the day. Including the “Thoothukudi Macaroons” in the Pongal Package just for the breaks-like-a- -brittle-biscuit-in-the-mouth factor.

If you are a traveller or claim to be a globetrotter, somewhere or the other, Ooty would have been the ignition location to all your travelling encounters. The hill station, the Queen of Hills from Tamil Nadu is famous for its delicious snacks/ locally sourced and made sweet - Varkey. With layers of crunch, Varkeys are made to precision and baked to a golden brown. Looks and feels like a perfect snack for any given day, they are best enjoyed when having a hot cup of chai or coffee on a cold, rainy evening. Including the “Ooty Varkey” in the Pongal Package just for the crunchy and golden-brown-baked-to-perfection ensemble.