Tamil Grocery Names in English: The Complete Kitchen Glossary
Ever been asked for seeragam or kallu uppu and wondered what it's called in English? Or found a recipe in English and couldn't match it to the Tamil name your amma uses? This glossary lists everyday Tamil kitchen ingredients with their English names, Tamil script and common uses. Where we stock the item, the name links straight to it.
Salt and Sweeteners
| Tamil name | Tamil | English name | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kal uppu / Kallu uppu | கல் உப்பு | Sea crystal salt (unrefined sea salt) | Cooking, pickles, brining |
| Induppu | இந்துப்பு | Rock salt (Himalayan pink salt is one kind) | Fasting food, chaats, buttermilk |
| Nattu sakkarai | நாட்டுச் சர்க்கரை | Country sugar (unrefined cane sugar) | Coffee, tea, sweets |
| Vellam / Mandai vellam | வெல்லம் | Jaggery | Pongal, payasam, kanji |
| Karupatti | கருப்பட்டி | Palm jaggery | Karupatti coffee, sweets |
Spices and Seeds
| Tamil name | Tamil | English name | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seeragam / Jeeragam | சீரகம் | Cumin seeds | Tempering, rasam, seeraga thanni |
| Vendhayam | வெந்தயம் | Fenugreek seeds (methi) | Idli and dosa batter, kuzhambu. Try our vendhayam omam karunjeeragam podi |
| Sombu | சோம்பு | Fennel seeds (saunf) | Biryani, kurma, after-meal mouth freshener |
| Daniya / Kothamalli vidhai | தனியா | Coriander seeds | Sambar and rasam powder |
| Milagu | மிளகு | Black pepper | Rasam, pongal, milagu kuzhambu |
| Kadugu | கடுகு | Mustard seeds | Tempering almost every dish |
| Manjal | மஞ்சள் | Turmeric | Everyday cooking |
| Sukku | சுக்கு | Dry ginger | Sukku malli coffee, kashayam |
| Omam | ஓமம் | Ajwain (carom seeds) | Omam water, bajji batter |
| Karunjeeragam | கருஞ்சீரகம் | Nigella seeds (kalonji, black cumin) | Pickles, breads, podi |
| Ellu | எள் | Sesame seeds | Ellu urundai, podi |
| Karuppu ellu | கருப்பு எள் | Black sesame seeds | Ellu podi, ellu urundai |
| Vadagam | வடகம் | Sun-dried seasoning balls (onion, mustard, spices) | Tempering kuzhambu and rasam |
Millets and Grains
| Tamil name | Tamil | English name | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thinai | திணை | Foxtail millet | Rice swap, kanji, pongal. More: thinai in English |
| Varagu | வரகு | Kodo millet | Rice swap, lemon rice |
| Samai | சாமை | Little millet | Light meals, noodles |
| Kuthiraivali | குதிரைவாலி | Barnyard millet | Pongal, upma, fasting food |
| Kezhvaragu / Ragi | கேழ்வரகு | Finger millet | Ragi kali, dosa, porridge (ragi flour) |
| Kambu | கம்பு | Pearl millet (bajra) | Kambu koozh, dosa |
| Cholam | சோளம் | Sorghum (jowar) | Roti, dosa, porridge |
| Pani varagu | பனிவரகு | Proso millet | Rice swap |
| Kula samai | குல சாமை | Browntop millet | Rice, upma, kanji |
Not sure which millet to start with? Read thinai vs varagu vs samai.
Pulses and Legumes
| Tamil name | Tamil | English name | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kollu | கொள்ளு | Horse gram | Kollu rasam, sundal |
| Vellai mookadalai / Kondakadalai | வெள்ளை மூக்குக்கடலை | White chickpeas (kabuli chana) | Sundal, channa masala |
| Karuppu kondakadalai | கருப்பு கொண்டைக்கடலை | Brown chickpeas (kala chana) | Sundal, kuzhambu |
| Pasi paruppu | பாசிப் பருப்பு | Split moong dal | Pongal, kootu |
| Thuvaram paruppu | துவரம் பருப்பு | Toor dal (pigeon pea) | Sambar |
| Ulundhu | உளுந்து | Urad dal (black gram) | Idli, dosa, vadai |
Oils and Ghee
| Tamil name | Tamil | English name | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nallennai | நல்லெண்ணெய் | Sesame oil (gingelly oil) | Tempering, idli podi, oil bath |
| Kadalai ennai | கடலை எண்ணெய் | Groundnut oil (peanut oil) | Everyday cooking, frying |
| Thengai ennai | தேங்காய் எண்ணெய் | Coconut oil | Cooking, hair and skin |
| Nei | நெய் | Ghee (clarified butter) | Pongal, sweets, rice |
Marachekku ennai means wood pressed oil. Learn the difference in wood pressed vs cold pressed vs refined oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is kallu uppu in English?
Kallu uppu (kal uppu) is sea crystal salt: large, unrefined salt crystals made by drying sea water in the sun. It is different from induppu, which is rock salt.
What is seeragam in English?
Seeragam (jeeragam) is cumin seeds. Karunjeeragam is a different spice: nigella seeds, also called kalonji.
What is vendhayam in English?
Vendhayam is fenugreek seeds, called methi in Hindi.
What is sombu in English?
Sombu is fennel seeds, called saunf in Hindi.
What is thinai in English?
Thinai is foxtail millet.
What is mookadalai in English?
Vellai mookadalai is white chickpeas (kabuli chana). The brown variety is called karuppu kondakadalai, or kala chana.
What is kezhvaragu in English?
Kezhvaragu is finger millet, better known as ragi.
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