ALAPPUZHA: Ananthapuram Palace in Harippad is now a storehouse of coveted taste. The credit goes to Gopakumar Varma who is popularizing the traditional pickles of centuries-old royal palaces. Varma, son of Kunjunni Raja and Ahilya Raja, is known for preparing longlasting pickles using only local ingredients. He has also launched various royal delicacies under the brand name 'Modak'.

Varma started pickle production in 1993 with an investment of only 700 rupees using mangoes obtained from the palace grounds. The pickle became an instant hit in other palaces and among the heirs living in different places because of the use of combinations of palace resources.

Varma's 'Maamootil Ganapathy Special Foods' operates near the place where he got his share from the Ananthapuram Palace. Gopakumar said that with the relaxation of COVID restrictions, more than 500 kg of pickles are being sold per month