Every time I purchased a podi in a store in India or the US, they had a strange flavor. Asafoetida(hing)?Preservatives? I am not sure. But PODI life delivers the true authentic homemade flavor without compromising the freshness. I instantly fell in love with the Crispy Garlic and made my way through the rest. The best part of about this set is that they are versatile. You can eat it in a typical south Indian way(rice, ghee, and podi) or add it to non-Indian dishes. I added them to stew, to bake veggies, and on eggs. If you are on the fence, I'd say get it. You won't regret it. I will now forever have PODI life in my pantry.