The typical Goan masala flavours of cafreal or rechaeadonormally take a day or two to prepare. Masalas like mackerel molho, prawn molhoor sorpotel paste and pickles like Bombay duck or tendlim pickle would takedays to make.
But thanks to Goana Foods preparations like these andvarious other masalas and pickles are available over the counter and evenexported.
Boasting of having a wide range of food products rangingfrom exotic fish and vegetable pickles to marinades, masalas, spices, vinegarsand synthetic syrups, Goana Foods has given fillip to the typical Goan flavour.
“We supply our readyto cook recipes even to some five-star hotels, fast food counters and localindividual consumers,” says Cyd Pais, Director, Goana Foods.
Over the years Goana Foods has been recognised as a trustedbrand. It was in October 1990 that a botany graduate Cyd Pais started a smallunit to manufacture Goan coconut vinegar in his village Batim. Cyd did not knowthat sticking to authentic flavours and maintain traditional ways of cookingwould take his company to an international platform.
Today Goana products are exported in Australia, Canada andUK.
In ‘90s Goan coconut vinegar was manufactured at home. Anindustrious Cyd thought of making this concept commercial but retaining itshome made flavour. Home made products from Goa are popular because of itsunique preparation. “I was sure that this idea would click,” he said and fromthere never looked back.
Cyd had humble beginning selling chicken and eggs from hishome poultry before he decided to start a unit of his own to sell products thatbear Goan flavours.
He chose traditional recipes and hired only Goan cooks tomaintain authenticity and taste.
He believed in personal touch at all stages. Freshness ismaintained to retain the taste and coconut vinegar, which is matured for atleast a year, is used to make the preparations staying away from all artificialcolours or preservatives. Even the spices are hand-picked and are grounded atthe factory leaving no space for adulteration.
“We have ventured and experimented into Indian and Chinesefood mixes, but our main motto remains to popularise Goan traditional food,”shares Cyd who does not believe that Goan delicacies are dying.
“Goan food is the best food. You can count on us, as long asGoana Foods is there,” Cyd concludes.
Goana Foods will be completing 22 years on October 27.
