A meal without the crisp and creamy yellow, pappads and its crunchy, tactile feel, would be unappetising to an average Malayali. It’s demand in various sizes does not stop with the sadya. For most it is a favourite with the Kerala’s own ‘puttu’ or the ‘upma’. The older generation even prefer it to biscuit for tea. Some even like it roasted than fried.

Be it children or adults, pappads are much sought after on the dining table. Children love to down it with rice or ‘kanji’, especially those who can’t stand ‘hot’ and savoury curries.

Yes, the demand for the wheatish and fluffy flat bread is growing by the day, but the industry is short of hands which has taken its toll on the traditional method of pappad-making.

Though manufacturers have slowly turned to mechanisation, handmade pappads still hold sway over the true culinary faithful. To cater to their needs is Viswas Pappads, near Changampuzha park, one of the oldest handmade pappad makers in Kochi.

An extension of Guruvayur manufacturing establishments, Viswas boasts 60 years of tradition. “The unit was set up by my father. and I followed in his footsteps,” says Viswanathan, the proprietor.

The dexterous process of pappad-making is a savoury sight to behold, now fast disappearing. Dal, salt, and ‘pappada karam’ are mixed to form a dough. The dough is kneaded and rolled by hand into long, thick strips which are cut into wafer thin slices and rolled into small flat spheres after which they are dried in the sun. “The handmade ones are sold out within hours of making,” said Viswanathan.

The pappads come in five different sizes, from ‘kutti’ pappads to the larger ones. The ‘kutti’ pappads, ideal for kids, and ‘masala pappads’ sell like hot cakes. “The pappads here are unadulterated, handmade, and delicious. It is profitable too, that is why I am a regular here,” says Jayakumar, an avid pappad lover.

Another legacy of Viswas is the price estimation based on number of pappadams in a packet. While other manufacturers fix them by weight, Viswas pappads go by traditions. It costs `60 for a packet of 100 (medium size).    The ‘art’ of making pappads that requires great speed, skill, and expertise, comes with lots of practice and Viswas has made a mark in it.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kochi / by Maya Philip,  Jaya Thampi  and Anaida Davis / June 06th, 2014