Varah Gourmet

Pooja Bhatia started Varah Gourmet in Dubai with stuffed dates made for friends; today the company makes dry-roasted spiced nuts in San Francisco, seasoned from several cuisines.

About Varah Gourmet

Based in
San Francisco, California
Known for
dry-roasted spiced nuts and stuffed dates

Varah Gourmet began with a box of handmade stuffed dates that Pooja Bhatia gave to friends. She grew up in Dubai, spent summers in India, and built the first version of the business in Dubai before moving to California in 2019.

The snack line borrows its seasonings from several cuisines, drawing on Dubai, India and California, and the nuts are made fresh in San Francisco.

Spiced nuts go out with olives and a dry white wine or a cold lager, or are crushed over hummus, a grain salad or a noodle bowl.

Varah Gourmet questions

Are Varah Gourmet nuts fried?

No. Varah dry roasts its nuts, which means cooking them with dry heat alone, much like toasting bread, instead of frying them in hot oil. The company says its nuts contain no seed oils, such as canola or sunflower oil, and no preservatives or artificial flavors. It also labels them gluten-free and dairy-free.

What does the name Varah mean?

Varah means "blessing" in Sanskrit, the ancient classical language of India. Founder Pooja Bhatia chose it for a company built around food gifts, and her stated aim is that a food gift should look beautiful and be made with ingredients people feel good about sharing, rather than forcing a choice between the two.

Read our Varah Gourmet guideSee all brands