For generations, Sibi Manivannan's family used traditional methods to make cooking oils. Imagine the power of a bullock driving a wooden pestle, extracting oil from seeds. In the later years, the convenience of refined oils took center stage. However, the desire for natural, healthy ingredients has returned, and people are rediscovering the value of minimally processed foods – just like what Sibi's grandfathers were involved in.

While running his family restaurant, Sibi witnessed the use of heavily processed oils. This pushed him to revive his family's business. He combined his deep understanding of traditional methods with his engineering expertise. Through years of research and development, Gramiyaa was born. Our oils are cold pressed in traditional wood and stone mills inside a modern hygienic facility. Like earlier times, oil is minimally processed, unheated and extracted with zero chemicals involved.

When we began in 2016, it was just with two cooking oils: wood cold pressed groundnut oil and wood cold pressed sesame oil. We started small, with stores in Trichy and Chennai. Since then, we've grown to serve more people across India, with over 6 micro warehouses enabling convenient doorstep delivery. We've also expanded our range to include a variety of high-quality cold pressed oils, like coconut and mustard, to help you keep your kitchen well-stocked with a variety of cooking oils for a variety of flavors and micronutrients.

A glimpse into the history of wood cold pressed oils in India

Extracting oil from seeds, fruits and nuts have been around for centuries. Cold pressed oils, made using traditional chekku or ghani methods, have been a staple in many cultures for thousands of years including the Indus Valley Civilization. Charred sesame seeds along with oil pressing machines were found in Harappan ruins that are around 5000 years old. Mechanical pressure gently squeezes oil from seeds, preserving their natural flavor and nutrients. This process avoids high heat, ensuring you get pure cold pressed oil for your daily cooking.

• The operation of chekku or ghani was a skilled craft passed down through families for generations. This ensured the preservation of the technique and the quality of the resulting wood cold pressed oils.
• Traditionally, these wooden pestles were driven by oxen, building a connection between humans, animals, and the land.
• The wooden pestle is made from a tree named Vaagai (or Albizia lebbeck). This helps absorb heat, and maintain the entire process close to room temperature.
• Each village could produce their own cooking oil through this method, using oil seeds locally available.
• While the core principle remains the same, chekku or ghani designs have slight variations across different regions of India, reflecting local materials and craftsmanship.

Why you should make the switch to Gramiyaa pure cold pressed oils

• Minimally processed: Unlike refined oils, cold-pressed oils skip the extra steps. This keeps the natural taste and nutrients intact from the seeds. Cold-pressing is also kind to the environment, using 90% less energy than refining methods. It helps you and the planet!
• No heat: Cold-pressed oils stay true to their name. Extracted at a gentle temperature (think room temperature plus 10-15°C), this method retains the tiny-but-mighty micronutrients from the seeds and passes it to the oil.
• Better flavor: The low-heat temperature also retains the flavor molecules in the oil. Along with that, at Gramiyaa, we spread seeds out to dry naturally under the warm sun. This gentle method keeps the seeds' natural flavor and aroma locked in, resulting in a more delicate and enjoyable taste for your cooking.
• Less cooks more: Gramiyaa wood cold pressed oils are flavorful and so 2 teaspoons are just right to cook a meal for 1. This makes sure your food is flavorful while keeping your stomach light and bloat-free.

A variety of wood cold pressed cooking oils from Gramiyaa

Food tastes better with a little variety, and our health loves it too. While you might have your trusty go-to oil, don’t limit yourself to just that one because no single oil is a superhero. There’s wood cold pressed groundnut, coconut, sesame, mustard and it goes on. By incorporating a mix of these throughout the week, give yourself a variety of nutrients to keep things running smoothly. Plus, it keeps your taste buds on their toes with different flavors.

Wood Cold Pressed Groundnut Oil

• Made from 100% sun-dried, non-roasted Java groundnuts for the best flavor & aroma.
• Gramiyaa groundnut oil is cold pressed in traditional stone mills at low temperatures to preserve all the natural nutrients.
• Contains zero trans fats. Rich in anti-inflammatory omega fatty acids. Plant sterols from groundnuts burn bad LDL cholesterol.
• Gramiyaa’s cold pressed groundnut oil has a light nutty taste. It has the right smoke point 160°C and is healthy for daily cooking.
• Contains zero chemicals, preservative-free and is machine packed (untouched by hands). Made in our US FDA, ISO Certified facility.
• Packed in opaque cartons protect the cold pressed groundnut oil from sunlight and keep it fresh for longer.

Wood Cold Pressed Coconut Oil

• Gramiyaa Coconut oil for cooking is made from sun-dried, non-roasted copras for the best flavor & aroma.
• Coconut oil is cold pressed in traditional stone mills at low temperatures to preserve all the natural nutrients.
• Contains zero trans fats. Coconut oil for cooking contains MCT fats that are instantly broken down into ketone energy for your brain health.
• Gramiyaa’s cold pressed coconut oil has a sweet, nutty taste. It has a smoke point of 170°C.
• Less oil cooks more food as its density is thicker. Food absorbs less oil and feels light on the stomach. 2 teaspoons/person/meal is just right.
• Contains zero chemicals, preservative-free and is machine packed (untouched by hands). Made in our US FDA, ISO Certified facility.
• Packed in opaque cartons protect cold pressed coconut oil from sunlight and keep it fresh for longer.

Wood Cold Pressed Sesame Oil

• Made from sun-dried, non-roasted black sesame seeds for the best flavor & aroma.
• Sesame oil is cold pressed in traditional stone mills at low temperatures to preserve all the natural nutrients.
• Contains zero trans fats. Rich in antioxidants that fight disease-causing free radicals and strengthen your immune systems.
• Gramiyaa’s cold pressed sesame oil has a light nutty taste. It has a high smoke point of 177°C and is healthy for daily cooking.
• Less sesame oil/gingelly oil cooks more food as its density is thicker. Food absorbs less oil and feels light on the stomach. 2 teaspoons/person/meal is just right.
• Gramiyaa’s cold pressed sesame oil/gingelly oil contains zero chemicals, preservative-free and is machine packed (untouched by hands). Made in our US FDA, ISO Certified facility.
• Packed in opaque cartons protect the cold pressed sesame oil from sunlight and keep it fresh for longer.

Wood Cold Pressed Mustard Oil

• Made from sun-dried, non-roasted black mustard seeds for the best flavor & aroma.
• Cold pressed in traditional stone mills at temperatures under 50°C to preserve all the natural nutrients.
• Contains zero trans fats. Allyl isothiocyanate from mustard releases gastric juices that help improve digestion efficiency and nutrition absorption.
• Gramiyaa’s cold pressed mustard oil has a sharp yet subtle pungency. It has a high smoke point of 250°C and is healthy for daily cooking.
• Less oil cooks more food as its density is thicker. Food absorbs less oil and feels light on the stomach. 2 teaspoons/person/meal is just right.
• Contains zero chemicals, preservative-free and is machine packed (untouched by hands). Made in our US FDA, ISO Certified facility.
• Packed in opaque cartons to protect the cold pressed mustard oil from sunlight and keep it fresh for longer.

FAQs

What is cold pressed oil?

Cold-pressed oil is oil extracted from nuts or seeds using a mechanical process without high heat or chemicals. These oils tend to be better in terms of flavour and health benefits.

How are cold pressed oils extracted?

The nuts or seeds are crushed to release the oil, typically with a press or similar mechanism. The temperature is kept low, ideally at room temperature or slightly above, to preserve the oil's natural flavor and nutrients. No chemicals are involved in the extraction process. At Gramiyaa, the extracted oil is passed through a cotton sieve to remove any seed sediments/residue that escaped into the oil.

Is cold pressed oil really better?

Cold pressed oils are healthier than commercially available refined cooking oils. This is majorly because of two changes in the extraction process. Refined oils are chemically processed at high temperatures. Whereas cold pressed oils are mechanically pressed (without any chemicals involved) in traditional wood and stone mills that rotate at slow speed (and so have low temperatures). This low temperature extraction helps preserve flavor, aroma and nutrients from the seeds.In refined oils, healthy fats get converted into trans-fats due to hydrogenation. In cold pressed oils, the healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated are retained. So yes, cold pressed oils are healthier for daily cooking.

What is the difference between cold pressed and hot pressed oil?

Refined oils are chemically processed at high temperatures. This converts the healthy fat from the seeds/nuts into harmful trans-fats. Whereas cold pressed oils are mechanically pressed (without any chemicals involved) in traditional wood and stone mills that rotate at slow speed (and so have low temperatures). This retains the healthy fats along with flavor and aroma from the seeds.

Is Kachi Ghani cold pressed?

Yes, Kachi Ghani is the Hindi word for cold pressed. It is called Mara-chekku in Tamil.

Can we heat cold pressed oil?

Yes, you can heat cold-pressed oil, but it's important to consider its smoke point. The smoke point is the temperature at which the oil starts to break down and smoke. If you heat cold-pressed oil or even refined oil past its smoke point, it can alter the flavor of your food and potentially create harmful compounds. For example, cold pressed groundnut oil has a smoke point of 160°C, making it suitable for regular Indian cooking methods. For deep frying, it’s best to use cold pressed sesame oil or cold pressed mustard oil as it has higher smoke points.

Which cold pressed oil is best for frying?

For frying, it's best to choose an oil with a high smoke point because frying typically involves high heat. Some cold-pressed oils, like sesame oil (177°C) and mustard oil (250°C) have a higher smoke point than others.They are popular choices for frying because of their very high smoke points.

Can cold pressed oil be used for cooking?

Yes, cold-pressed oil can be used for cooking. Cold-pressed oils are typically more flavorful than refined oils so you often need less oil than usual to cook. This is helpful to add flavor to your meals while keeping your calories in check and feeling light and bloat-free.