Updated in 2024 by Lalita Iyer
It’s time to leave the mountains, and you wish you could stay just a little longer. But the good news is you can always take something back home to remind you of your time here. We’ve rounded up the best goodies the Kodai community has to offer, from organic coffee and eucalyptus oil (grown and processed in these hills) to home-made chocolate and handcrafted home decor! Many of these products are earth-friendly and made in Kodaikanal, which means your purchases contribute towards empowering the local community and preserving the landscape at large.
Organic coffee
There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly brewed coffee, is there? The hills around Kodai have many coffee estates that are organically managed and home to wildlife ranging from porcupines and barking deer to giant squirrels and rare birds. This wealth of biodiversity produces wonderful coffee too: rich in flavour, aroma and complexity. The kind of brew that uplifts our mornings and reminds us of the treasures of living in harmony with nature. Brands like Thadian Kudisai (formerly One Big Farm), Adisarai, Big Mountain, Nandan, and Poz Café sell coffee powder and whole beans in medium and dark roast: the medium is fruitier in flavour, while the dark tends to have more nutty notes. The Pulney Hills Café on PT Road also sells their own brand of 100% arabica coffee.
Available at Earthen Works (04542-240244), The Skylark Shop, The Pulney Hills Café, all located on PT Road. Open 11am to 7pm. Rs 200–270 for 200gm.
Local pottery
While Potter’s Shed, an old Kodaikanal brand, has shut down, Subramaniam, one of the potters who created its popular and rustic wares continues, solo. His mugs are available in gorgeous greens and blues, and more products are in the offing.
Cookies, biscuits, brownies and granola
Jothi, a baker who operates from her kitchen in Naidupuram in Kodaikanal, makes these hearty home-made cookies: dark chocolate, chocolate chip, ragi, ginger, cashew and butter. Her brownies and granola are perfect to take back home.
George’s Gourmet Kitchen also makes cookies and biscotti.
Jothi’s goodies available at The Skylark Shop. George’s available at The Skylark Shop and Kiki’s Book Shop, both on PT Road. Open 10.30am to 8pm.
Eucalyptus and other therapeutic oils
To walk around Kodai is to walk amidst towering eucalyptus trees, with their smooth, pale bark and lusciously scented leaves. Introduced to the hill station by the British in the 1800s, eucalyptus trees have become synonymous with Kodaikanal, so it’s no wonder that eucalyptus oil is sold on every corner.
But not all eucalyptus oil is created equal. Some are mixed with other carrier oils to reduce the price of the product, and as a thumb rule, pure eucalyptus oil is generally available in shops that run their own distillery unit, such as Lord’s Spices or local brands Swasthya and Satori. Both are Kodaikanal brands with a range of products made from natural, herbal ingredients sourced from the hills.
The good stuff has plenty of medicinal properties, and it is based on authentic ayurvedic formulations, free of chemical ingredients. Also available: oils made of citronella, tea tree, spearmint, lavender, bergamot, patchouli and geranium, which have a range of therapeutic uses.
Available at Lord’s Spices in Bus Stand Complex (94880 56982). Open 10am to 9.30pm. Swasthya at Linen Plus Kodai and The Skylark Shop; Satori at Earthen Works (04542-240244), all located on PT Road. Open 10.30am to 8 pm. Rs 250–300 for 100ml of eucalyptus, citronella, lemongrass oil; Rs 225–450 for 10ml of other essential oils.
Birds of Kodaikanal memory game
As a biodiversity hotspot, Kodai is home to a spectacular number of birds. You may have spotted them while on treks, meandering walks or about town, uplifting us all with their beautiful songs. This beautifully illustrated memory game pays tribute to Kodai’s avian community, featuring 20 species of birds, including the Malabar whistling thrush, the yellow-browed bulbul and the jungle myna. It is suitable for all age groups and is a great way to test your memory.
Available at The Skylark Store, PT Road. Rs 450. Open 11am to 7pm.
Leather products
The hills are the perfect place to flaunt your leather jacket, whether you’re going on a bike ride or just walking about town. Prowess, a local women’s group, makes and sells leather jackets under their own brand name, and both the quality and design are high quality.
Available at Prowess on PT Road. Open 10.30am to 5pm. Rs 2900–4200
Cheese
The 50-year-old Kodai Cheese has two outlets in town, one by the lake and another shop on Anna Salai. You can choose from Camembert, Parmesan, feta, red chilli cheddar, herbed goat cheese, smoked cheese and more. They also have cheese spreads in various flavours. Caroselle Cheese, another brand that originated in Kodaikanal and is now produced in the plains, is available at Kiki’s Book Shop and has Montasio cheese, apart from the regular must-try flavours.
Available at the Kodai Cheese outlet on Lake Road and Annasalai. Open 10am to 9pm. Also available at Kiki’s Book Shop, PT Road. Open 10am to 7pm. Rs 400–600.
Herbal supplements
For those of you who believe that natural products have the potential to cure and heal, Ayura Origins, based in Kodaikanal, has a range of natural food supplements rooted in Ayurveda and wellness that address a wide range of chronic ailments, including diabetes, kidney, liver and gut health, hypertension and anaemia. All products are food-based, containing a mixture of herbs, spices, vegetables, fruits and roots.
The products are USFDA-registered, FSSAI-certified and tested for nutritional value at the labs of TUV Nord.
Available at The Skylark Shop, PT Road and Tamara Hotel, Pambarpuram. Open 10.30am to 8pm. Price Rs 200–975. Contact Ayura Origins on 98819 76661.
Wild forest honey
Brands like Ghats Honey and Hoopoe on a Hill are based in the Palani Hills and sell forest honey gathered by Adivasis. They help secure rights for these indigenous communities, whose practices are important for preserving our habitat; Adivasi foragers have a deep understanding of the local ecology and harvest honey in a way that doesn’t impact the health of the bees.
Honey products have their roots in the most interior forest areas of the Eastern and Western Ghats, procured from only free-range hives, not from commercial beekeeping. There are numerous varieties to choose from: eucalyptus, moringa, kurinji, jamun, mudakathan, neem and palai poo.
Hoopoe on the Hill honey available at The Skylark Shop, PT Road. Rs 450–650 for 500g. Ghats Honey available at their exclusive outlet in Pambarpuram (82487 31532), opposite St. Peter’s School. Open 10am to 7pm. Rs 1000–3500 per kg depending on the variant and the season.
Beeswax bars, wraps, lip balm and candles
Beeswax is the waxy substance secreted by bees when constructing their hives. This is collected by Adivasi people when they gather honey, and it is used to make environmentally friendly candles, crayons and lip balms. If you’re into DIY, The Skylark Shop (formerly The Hoopoe Shop) also sells bars of beeswax, which can be used to make your own products. Of late, the beeswax is also used to make beeswax wraps: an eco-friendly alternative to plastic cling film that is reusable up to 100 times or for six months. It is ideal to wrap cheese, bread or rotis, or to cover dips and cooked vegetables in the fridge.
Available at The Skylark Shop, PT Road. Open 10.30am to 8pm. Beeswax wraps Rs 450, beeswax candles Rs 125 for a pair, beeswax lip balm Rs 200 and beeswax bars Rs 140 for 100g.
Home-made chocolates
The streets of Kodaikanal are lined with shops advertising home-made chocolates, but it’s hard to know which one to pick. Resident favourites include Caesar’s, named after the chocolate-maker’s pet dog and made in the kitchen of Manna Bandrawalla since 1999. Caesar’s has 11 flavours, including orange zest, mint and marzipan, all made at home and available at local stores.
Meltiez on Anna Salai also sells good-quality chocolate, from milk chocolate with toasted nuts to blueberry, mango, strawberry, hazelnut cream, coconut and liquid coffee in dark chocolate, all made in their respective units on site.
Caesar’s chocolates are available at Pulney Hills Café, Earthen Works (04542-240244), The Skylark Shop and Linen Plus Kodai, all on PT Road. Open 10.30am to 8pm.
Meltiez (98848 83393) is on Annasalai, Bazaar Road. Open 11am to 9pm. Rs 100–280 for 100g.
Thadiyankudisai tote bags
Stitched by rural women in the village of Thadiyankudisai, these cotton cloth bags are light, washable and feature an image of our friendly neighbourhood bovine: the mighty Indian gaur, standing in front of Pillar Rocks, an iconic spot in Kodaikanal. Gaur are magnificent wild creatures, but it’s become common to see them around town—a reminder that Kodaikanal is, after all, located in a wildlife sanctuary. Big enough to fit a notebook, your water bottle and some groceries, the bags are a great purchase, especially since plastic bags have been banned in the hill station.
Available at The Skylark Store (formerly The Hoopoe Shop), PT Road. Rs 60 per bag. Open 11am to 7pm.
Pepper and turmeric
Amidst bio-diverse coffee plantations, you will generally find pepper vines creeping up the trees and luscious turmeric plants nestled amongst the bushes. These aromatic and highly medicinal spices are most potent when grown in vibrant ecosystems and procured close to their source, and Kodai has some of the best to offer. Satori has some great spices, such as turmeric and pepper (both whole and powdered), spice mixes and a range of herbal teas, perfect for infusions.
Available at Lord’s Spices in Bus Stand Complex and Earthen Works (04542-240244), PT Road. Pepper Rs 110 for 100gms and turmeric Rs 200 for 250gms.
Local art
Kodaikanal’s natural beauty has always inspired art, and many artists and writers find it to be an excellent muse. Local artists such as Sumitha Sundaram and EllyO, who paint the local landscape in various media, have their work on display.
If you’re looking for something to forever remind you of the hills and the towering trees, flowers and the lake, taking home one of these artworks is a wonderful choice.
Sumitha Sundaram’s works are available at Shalimar Weaves, Bazaar Road. Open 11am to 9pm. Rs 3000–10,000.
Elly0’s works available at Earthen Works (04542-240244) on PT Road. Open 10.30am to 8pm. Rs 2500–3500.
Handcrafted cotton toys and decor
Handcrafted soft toys, puppets, dolls, home decor items and fun backpacks for children form an important cottage industry powered by rural women in the hills. These are made by local women’s groups like Kodaikanal People Development Group (Kopedeg) and Prowess, and are available at their outlets. They make for great gifts to take back home and can brighten up any room or space.
Available at Kopedeg Crafts, Prowess on PT Road. Open 10.30am to 5pm. Rs 150–450.
Sauces, jams, pickles and relishes
There are plenty of local brands that make products that will elevate any meal. Choose from Adisarai’s guava jam and gooseberry and lemon pickles or the deliciously homey fish and chicken pickles by Fem’s Kitchen. And if you’re in the mood for ketchup, habanero sauce, mustard or cinnamon butter, there’s always the reliable George’s Gourmet Kitchen.
Available at The Skylark Shop, Earthen Works (04542-240244), Kiki’s Book Shop, all located on PT Road. Open 10.30am to 8pm. Adisarai jams are also available at Pastry Corner, Anna Salai. Open 10.30am to 1pm and 3pm to 5 pm.
Organic soaps, shampoos and skincare products
The Kodai hills are abundant in therapeutic herbs and plants that, when formulated carefully with minimal use of additives, can lead to great skin- and hair-care products. Brands like Swasthya, Olga and Satori have a range of handmade soaps, shampoos, skin and hair serums, balms, scrubs and body butter. They all smell and feel delightful, and you’ll likely end up buying a little something for yourself and several more as gifts.
Available at Earthen Works (04542-240244) and The Skylark Shop, both located on PT Road. Open 10.30am to 8 pm. Rs 80–400.
With inputs from TKC staff and Rehaan Iyer
