Salteen Ingredient Knowledge Base
Onion (Pyaz)
प्याज
प्याज का अचार — जो खाने में तीखापन और मिठास एक साथ लाए। Small pearl onions preserved whole — pungent, slightly sweet, and deeply Banarasi.
Hindi Name
प्याज
Type
Vegetable
Origin
Varanasi, UP
Season
Year-Round
Taste
Pungent and Sweet
Category
The Salteen Story
प्याज — तीखा भी, मीठा भी। Small pearl onions preserved whole in spiced mustard oil — a bold, pungent Banarasi pickle.
Pyaz achar is the pickle that divides the table neatly in two — those who eat onion and those who don't. For those who do, whole pickled onions in spiced mustard oil are one of the great pleasures of a North Indian meal. The raw pungency of fresh onion mellows over weeks of pickling into something that is simultaneously sharp, sweet, and deeply savoury.
At Salteen, we use small pearl onions — the variety that can be pickled whole rather than cut — sourced from UP farms. These small onions have a more intense flavour than the large variety and their small size means the masala and mustard oil penetrate all the way through during maturation.
Note that our pyaz-based preparations are clearly marked as not Jain-friendly. The sharp, pungent character of pickled onion is not for everyone — but for those who love it, there is nothing quite like it with a simple dal-rice meal.
Pickled pearl onions in mustard oil — bite one whole, and the combination of sharp, sweet, spicy, and sour all at once is one of the great pickle experiences.
— Salteen, Banaras Ka SwadTaste Profile
The Flavour of Onion (Pyaz)
Why It Matters
Health Benefits
Onions are among the most well-studied vegetables for health benefits — their quercetin content is one of the most potent natural anti-inflammatory compounds available in food.
Quercetin — Anti-inflammatory
Onions are the richest dietary source of quercetin — a flavonoid with powerful anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antihistamine properties.
Heart Health
Regular onion consumption is associated with lower blood pressure, reduced platelet aggregation, and improved cardiovascular outcomes.
Antimicrobial
The sulphur compounds in onions have broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity — contributing to the preservative properties of pickle preparations.
Prebiotic
Fructooligosaccharides in onion are powerful prebiotics — feeding beneficial gut bacteria and supporting microbiome health.
Note: The above reflects traditional and general nutritional knowledge. Consult a healthcare professional for personal dietary advice.
Farm to Jar
Where It Comes From
🧅 UP Onion Farms — Pearl Variety
We source small pearl onions from farms in the Varanasi and Allahabad belt — the alluvial soil of the Gangetic plain produces onions with a strong pungent character and good natural sugar content, ideal for whole pickling. We select the smallest, most uniform pearl onions available — typically 2-3 cm diameter — for even pickling and attractive presentation.
In Your Salteen Kitchen
Used In
Pearl onions are preserved whole in Salteen's pyaz achar — one of our most pungent, flavourful pickle preparations. They also feature as a flavour element in certain namkeen preparations and chutneys. Not Jain-friendly.
In Brief
Small pearl onions from UP farms preserved whole in cold-pressed mustard oil — pungent, slightly sweet, and deeply satisfying. Not Jain-friendly.
— Salteen Ingredient Description