What is mukhwas? The after-meal mix for Diwali guests

In many Indian homes the meal does not end with the last roti. A small bowl or a steel box comes round the table, and everyone takes a pinch of seeds. That pinch is mukhwas, literally something for the mouth, and at Diwali, when the house is full of guests and sweets, the bowl hardly stops moving.

What goes into mukhwas

There is no single recipe. Most mixes start from a few roasted seeds and build from there:

• Fennel (saunf), sweet and cooling, the base of most mixes.
• Sesame (til), roasted for a nutty crunch.
• Dhana dal, split and roasted coriander seed, thin golden flakes with a mild citrus note.
• Ajwain, a little goes a long way.
• Rose petals for colour and fragrance, and in Gujarat, mango kernel (guthli) roasted with sesame.

A touch of black salt, turmeric or sugar finishes the mix. Families guard their own ratios, and every region has its favourite.

Our four after-meal mixes

We pack four mixes in clear screw-cap jars, so you can see what you are passing round. The Traditional Mix is the classic: sesame, dhana dal, fennel, ajwain and watermelon seeds. The Rose Leaf Mix adds rose petals to dhana dal, sesame and fennel. Til Gutli is sesame with roasted mango kernel, and Dhana Dal is the plain roasted flakes on their own.

For Diwali, the Mukhwas Set puts all four together, and it is an add-on in our Diwali spice box.

How to serve it at Diwali

• Use a thali with four small bowls, one mix in each, so guests can choose.
• Put a small spoon in every bowl rather than asking guests to use their fingers.
• Keep the bowl by the door or next to the sweets, where people pause on their way out.
• Refill little and often; an open bowl loses its crunch overnight in humid weather.

Make your own house mix

Start with two spoons of the Traditional Mix, one of Dhana Dal and one of the Rose Leaf Mix, then taste. More dhana dal makes it milder, more Til Gutli makes it nuttier. Mix only what you will serve in a day or two and keep the rest in the jars.

Storing mukhwas

Close the cap after every use and keep the jar in a cool, dry cupboard, away from the stove. Roasted seeds soak up moisture from the air, so a closed jar is what keeps the crunch.

Frequently asked questions

Is mukhwas the same as paan masala?

No. Mukhwas is a mix of roasted seeds and herbs. It contains no tobacco or areca nut.

How much do people take?

A small pinch or half a teaspoon after a meal is the usual serving.

Does it contain sugar?

Some mixes do. Our Rose Leaf Mix has 5% refined sugar; the Traditional Mix, Til Gutli and Dhana Dal have none. The ingredients are listed on each jar and product page.