Baking in Mumbai

There was a time not long ago when I thought of giving up on baking since resources were not available easily in Mumbai. Looking for basic pans and equipments has been the most frustrating experience. I read on a blog about Arife in Crawford selling bakeware and I was so happy!!!! I bought a couple of cake pans and cupcake liners being naive enough to not check the quality. After all I was new to baking. I could not make out the color of the liners once baked. I baked a couple of things in the pans and then decided that I would only buy good quality bakeware that lasts for few years if not lifetime. Since I have not bought anything from Arife Crawford for some time now, I am not sure if the quality has improved.

Finding the right baking resources in Mumbai is not difficult any more. I have tried my best to compile all the information that I have regarding the availability of resources in Mumbai.

Updated on 21st Sep 2016.

Puff Pastry: Hearsch Bakery, Bandra West, Ph: 022 26435361.

Unsalted Butter: I buy mine either from Hypercity which stocks brands like Amul, Amandeep, Punjab Sind, Murginns, President and Lupark. Some of these brands along with Parsi Dairy is available at all Godrej Nature's Basket stores as well.

Near Organic Eggs: Hypercity and Godrej Nature's Basket.

Muscavado, Soft and Dark brown sugars: For soft brown sugar, I use the one available under Patanjali brand by the name Madhuram. It is also available at Hypercity. Another brand available is Tate Lyle at Godrej Nature's Basket and Hypercity.

Caster and Demerera Sugar: Blue Bird, Mawana are available at Arife, Hypercity and Godrej Nature's Basket. Tate Lyle is available at Hypercity and Godrej Nature's Basket.

Cheese: Philadelphia cream cheese and other types of cheeses like Cheddar, Camembert, Brie etc are available in Crawford at any store that keeps food items. Ensure that the cream cheese has been kept in the refrigerator. You can buy them from Godrej Nature's Basket and Hypercity also.

Golden Syrup and Corn Syrup: Crawford and Arife.

Applesauce: Crawford.

Cupcake Liners: Heera Mani(T: 022 2788 0007) and Arife(T: 97694 59359) in Vashi, Navi Mumbai (I am not sure about the quality of Arife's cupcake liners but the cake pans are good). Sphere International in Goregaon(They are the wholesale suppliers and have a huge variety).www.sphereinternational.in
Saria Stove(T: 02208 2314), Lohar Chawl (limited variety though). If you want Wilton liners, contact CCDS in New Delhi(T: 011 4632 3679) or www.ccdsshop.com.

Parchment Paper: Heera Mani, Vashi and all Arife branches.

Ramekins: Saria, Lohar Chawl.

Measuring Cups and spoons: You will get plastic ones at Heera Mani, Arife and Saria Stove and HomeStop outlets. For steel ones, head over to Bombay Kitchen, Lohar Chawl.

Measuring Jugs: Homestop for Pyrex and OXO brands. Whatever brand you choose, just ensure that the ink markings are of good quality.

Cookie Cutters: Arife and Heera Mani, Vashi, Saria(very limited variety though) and www.smartbakers.com as well as amazon.in.

Cake Pans: Homestop, Arife and Heera Mani, Vashi and Saria Stove. CCDS(www.ccdsshop.com) for Wilton cake pans. Lot of baking pans and other baking supplies are also available at Magsa Moulde, Darshan Apts, Shop No.4, Kadwa Galli, opp Vikram book depot, Kharkar Ali lane, jambli naka, Thane W #98206 78631 and 98201 41005 (Thanks Annie for the Info).

Also available at www.smartbakers.com and amazon.in

Cheesecake Pans: Available at Arife but are of shoddy quality. My pan's non stick coating got removed just after the first careful wash. I have now invested in a non stick pan from Wilton and a heavy duty aluminium one from Fat Daddio's (got this from US). You can buy from amazon.in as well.

Muffin pans: Available at Arife(shoddy quality again). I purchased an expensive nonstick muffin pan of Norpro brand from HomeStop and it's worth every penny or buy from amazon.in

Canning Jars: Saria or buy online from and amazon.in

Candy and Oven Thermometers: Puja Engineering, Navi Mumbai(http://www.getit.in/c/pujaengineering1/products/) and Saria Stove.

Silpat: Saria, HomeStop keeps silicon mat of Norpro brand.

Vanilla Pods: Bombay Store branches, Godrje Nature's Basket, Arife and CCDS(www.ccdsshop.com).

Buttermilk: Try and get the unsalted ones (Warana's is avialable now) or make your own buttermilk.

Cocoa Powder: I use Hintz that has a pure cocoa flavor. Available at Hypercity, at Quality Stores, Vashi, Arife, Vashi and at Godrej Nature's Basket and at Crawford.

Cocoa Butter: Available at www.deltanutritives.com.

Chocolate: Callebaut available but in bulk quantities at www.deltanutritives.com. You can buy Lindt as well (which is a good alternative) at Crawford and Godrej Nature's Basket. Also available at CCDS(www.ccdsshop.com). Callebaut is avialable at Arife's as well.

Glazes: www.deltanutritives.com.

Black Poppy Seeds: It is so difficult to find these in Mumbai. But finally found it! Shop name: Spice King, Shop No. 129/130/133 Crawford Market (Thanks Annie for the info)

Sprinkles, Jimmies, Non pareils and colored sugars: www.sphereinternational.in, Arife and CCDS(www.ccdsshop.com).

Gel Food Colors: Americolor is now available at Arife and CCDS. Wilton colors at Heera Mani (pricey) and Spectrum and Wilton available at CCDS(www.ccdsshop.com).

Pearl Dusts and Disco Dusts: www.sphereinternational.in, Arife and CCDS(www.ccdsshop.com).

Food Flavorings: LorAnn Oils at CCDS and Godrej Nature's Basket.

Fondant and Royal Icing mix: Satin Ice and Wilton at CCDS(www.ccdsshop.com).

Fondant and Gumpaste Tools: Heera Mani, Arife and CCDS(www.ccdsshop.com) and www.smartbakers.com

Bread Flour: www.sphereinternational.in (minimum 5 kg pack) and www.swissbake.in (min 20 kg pack :( ) (T: 0222 494 4104).

Cake Flour and Bread Decors: www.swissbake.in. Cake flour is available at Hypercity under the brand name Bob's Red Mill.

Almond Flour: Available at Hypercity under the brand name Bob's Red Mill.

Gluten Free Flour Mix: Available at Hypercity under the brand name Bob's Red Mill.

Yeast: Fresh and Instant dry yeast available at Continental Store, Crawford. Please DO NOT use the dry yeast available at grocery stores.

Whipping Cream: Tropolite available at Arife and Heera Mani in 1 ltr packs that are frozen. For smaller packages, checkout Hypercity(Amandeep brand) and few other international brands are available as well.

CMC powder: Local grocery stores, CCDS Arife and Heeramani.

Tylose powder, Vegatarian Gelatin: CCDS(www.ccdsshop.com), New Delhi.

Vegetarian Royal Icing, Cake(Sponge) Gel, Isomalt and Edible Glycerin: CCDS, New Delhi(www.ccdsshop.com)

Organic Vegetables: Hypercity and Godrej Nature's Basket.

Fresh Berries: Blueberries are available at Godrej Nature's Basket mid April/early May onwards for a month or so(super pricey though). I have seen blackberries in Crawford as well.

Frozen Berries: You can order frozen blueberries(wild ones), cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, red rhubarb from www.deltanutritives.com. They all come in 1 kg package though and blueberries are in 2.5 kgs package. You can also buy fresh blueberries and freeze them yourself. If you want 200 grams package, head to Godrej Nature's Basket.

Herbs: Fresh herbs are available at Hypercity and Godrej Nature's Basket. If you want to grow your own herbs, call up Nisarg Nursery(Vile Parle) at 022 2612 9306 or Green Grower(Bandra) at 022 2641 5985. Also, check out the plant exhibitions that come up usually during January and February. I picked up Sage, Thyme, Oregano and Basil recently from an exhibition and they are doing pretty well.

KitchenAid Stand Mixer: Toll free No. 1800 4190 790 and www.kitchenaidindia.com