About Thinai Organics
Thinai Organics is a Chennai food brand started by Saranya Rajendran in 2018. We sell millets, traditional rice, wood pressed oils, ghee, podis and everyday groceries, buying direct from farmers wherever we can, and deliver across India. We have delivered more than 10,000 orders so far.
The problem: you can't see what's inside the packet
Most of us buy oil, turmeric, ghee and millets without any way of knowing how they were grown, pressed or mixed. The label looks clean. The price looks fair. But the oil may be refined with heat and chemicals, the spice may be coloured, the rice may be polished till nothing is left but starch.
You notice it in small ways. Food that doesn't taste like it did at amma's or paati's house. Oil that has no smell at all. A packet that says "natural" and lists nothing about where it came from.
How Thinai started
Thinai began in 2018 as a passion project: one mother, Saranya, looking for food she could trust for her own children. She started finding farmers and small producers who still grew and made food the traditional way, and sharing it with friends and neighbours in Chennai. By 2020 the demand was big enough that Thinai became her full-time work.
The name comes from thinai (திணை), foxtail millet, one of the oldest grains in Tamil kitchens.
How we source
- Millets, rice, pulses and grains: bought direct from farmers, so we know who grew them and the farmer gets a fairer price.
- Wood pressed (marachekku) oils: pressed in Chennai the traditional marachekku way. Wood pressing runs slowly and without added heat, so the oil keeps its natural colour, smell and taste.
- Podis, sevai, snacks and sweets: made in small batches with traditional recipes, without maida, palm oil or artificial colours where the product page says so.
- Packing: everything is checked and packed in Chennai before it is shipped.
What you get
Food that tastes the way you remember it, from people you can actually message. Every order is packed in Chennai, delivered anywhere in India, and if something isn't right, you talk to us directly on WhatsApp, not a call centre.
Why it matters
What goes into your family's food every day adds up over years. Switching one thing, the oil you cook with or the grain you eat most, is the easiest place to start.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Thinai Organics?
Saranya Rajendran, a Chennai entrepreneur, started Thinai Organics in 2018 and has run it full time since 2020. She is an alumna of the IIM Bangalore NSRCEL × Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women programme.
Where is Thinai Organics based?
In Chennai, Tamil Nadu. All orders are packed in Chennai and shipped across India.
Does Thinai buy directly from farmers?
Yes. Our millets, rice, pulses and grains are bought directly from farmers.
Where is Thinai's wood pressed oil made?
In Chennai, in a traditional wood press (marachekku). We sell groundnut, sesame (nallennai) and coconut oil.
Does Thinai deliver outside Chennai?
Yes, we deliver across India.
How do I contact Thinai?
WhatsApp or call us on +91 93422 09163, or use our contact page.
Start with our wood pressed oils or browse millets, or message us on WhatsApp and we'll help you choose.