Selling Sand-roasted Peanuts for 60 Years!

Selling sand-roasted peanuts for 60 years:

“I hate television. I hate it as much as peanuts. But I can’t stop eating peanuts.”
– Orson Welles

Come on, all of us know how difficult it is to eat “just one peanut”! There’s this funny definition of willpower – “Willpower is the ability to eat just one salted peanut!”

There would hardly be a ‘Mallu‘ who hasn’t relished on those hot sand-roasted peanuts (“nilakkadala“) while strolling through the lengths and breadths of village fairs, carnivals, cultural or religious fests, or while enjoying dramas or live musical concerts in open ground.

Many of us would still be able to recollect the nostalgic feel of those long, cone-shaped, warm newspaper packets with sand-roasted peanuts, and dipping our fingers into it!

It’s very unlikely that we have paid close attention to the folks who sell us those piping-hot sand-roasted peanuts. They are just “small-time traders” for us.

We at myKottayam.com talked to Shri Ashraf, who sells sand-roasted peanuts near the KSRTC main bus stand @ Kottayam. What we heard from him, and experienced while we were with him, was quite surprising and pleasing!

• Shri Ashraf, along with his friend Shri Thulasi, have been in the same business for over 60 years! Kottayam KSRTC bus stand has been their prime PoS (‘Point of Sale’ – come on buddy, we can use such fancy jargon here as well! 🙂
• The trade of sand-roasted peanuts has supported their families’ financial needs quite well for the last 60 odd years
• Ashraf underwent heart bypass surgery a few years ago, the cost of which was raised mostly from the same business
• The nearby merchants and local Police have been very supportive and sympathetic to Ashraf and his friend, especially since the former’s bypass surgery
• They earn an average sum of Rs.450 every day from this humble business in front of the KSRTC stand

During the odd thirty minutes that the myKottayam.com reporter was with Shri Ashraf, more than 10 people came to the shop to buy sand-roasted peanuts. Most of them were ladies, and they seemed to be regular customers.

How is peanuts roasted in sand?

Thoroughly cleaned river-sand is used to roast raw peanuts. Both are mixed in an iron frying pan, and heated up by stirring the mixture continuously on fire. When fried to the right degree, peanuts are filtered out from the sand, and served to customers.

How often do they replace the sand?

At least once a day. If the sand blackens out beyond a certain level for any reason, they replace it with fresh sand.

Regular business hours:

Ashraf & Thulasi’s shop near the KSRTC bus stand is open between 10 AM and 8:45 PM every day, including Sundays.

It’s interesting to note that Ashraf and his friend Thulasi are not from Kottayam. They belong to Kollam (Karunagappalli), and they stay in a rented room near KSRTC bus stand. They visit their families at Kollam in turns while running the small business at Kottayam.

Let’s support such humble tradesmen:

So the next time you’re at Kottayam KSRTC bus stand, do not forget to buy a packet of sand-roasted peanuts for Rs.10/- from this small shop. It’s with our support and care that people like Ashraf & Thulasi, along with their families, lead their humble lives in dignity.

Watch a video of peanut roasting using sand:

Location Map of KSRTC Bus Stand, Kottayam: