Soapnuts drying in the natural sunlight

I was treated to something quite interesting one day while traveling in the Northern state of Himachal Pradesh, India. My friend and driver, Rakesh, knew a family near Baijnath, who owned a successful business selling soapnuts.  Since we were planning to be in the area, he explained he should pay his customary respects. I had never heard of soapnuts, or chooprahs as it sounded to me, so the opportunity for a meeting was intriguing.

Owned by two brothers, their success came after personal misfortune. The older brother and friend of Rakesh’s, was once a driver himself. One day while sitting on the front of a motor scooter with friends, a drunk driver veered into the path of his scooter. With no time to react, the scooter was hit. Rakesh’s friends’ legs were crushed requiring several painful operations. His driving days were over for sure, and his days of walking were looking dim.

At the same time, the younger brother Karan, was also a driver in Delhi. By chance, one of his clients traveled to India from Switzerland looking to source soapnuts. As the younger brother and his client grew to know each other over their time together, the Swiss businessman made an offer that would change the course of both brother’s lives. If the brothers could help source soapnuts for this gentleman, he promised big repeat business.

Soapnuts

Indian soapnuts are a natural washing agent, a 100% ecological alternative to our every day laundry detergents. The mountainous region of Himachal Pradesh are very suitable for Sapindus Mukorossi (soap trees) and for high quality soapnuts production. Sapindus Mukorossi grow in the wild, next to fields, in gardens, in wild areas and also in forests. They are not farmed in the traditional sense of orchards, yet found growing wild. The annual harvest of crops does not affect the longevity or subsistence of future crops. In fact, annual harvest volumes are much higher than current demand with supply still readily available if need be.

Sourcing

Farmers develop relationships with the tree owners during the blooming periods of May- June. The upcoming harvest is determined based on the blooming intensity at which time trees are contracted for an agreed price. One tree can deliver 660 lbs to more than 3500 lbs. of nuts. Harvest comes from Mid-September to mid-October where nuts are manually gathered. After the two brothers received the offer to source soapnuts, they became “collectors”. They purchase the harvested soapnuts from the farmers in mass quantities. Under their arrangement, they then process the nuts and ready them for retail sale and finalize by shipping to contracted companies around the world.

On the day we arrived, it was perfectly sunny and warm. We pulled off the road just past their house, outside of Baijnath a few kms, right on schedule for a 1:00 P.M. lunch meeting. As we walked into the gated courtyard, I couldn’t help but notice the small pack of perfectly uniformed ladies all sitting in front of sewing machines. Next to them were piles of cotton being cut, formed and sewn into various size bags. These bags, I later learned, would be used to ship individual bags of soapnuts for retail sale. On the left side of the courtyard lay a sheet mounded with drying soapnuts.

We were met by the wife of the older brother and quickly invited in. A simple lunch of dal, rice and vegetable was served along with chai and a Himachali apple for dessert. During lunch I learned about the accident and how the business came to be. Rakesh informed me before the accident both brothers were struggling financially. The other villagers were not friendly toward the family. Now successful entrepreneurs, villagers fall over themselves to be in the good graces of this family. They know there are much needed, high paying jobs to be had here.

After lunch I was offered a tour of the growing operations. A new, larger building down the road from their home was under construction where the soapnut business would soon relocate. On the main level, the enclosed portion houses the kitchen and several bedrooms along with a large meeting room. Outside on the veranda/courtyard, the female employees construct retail bags for the nuts as well as monitor the drying of the soapnuts. Downstairs, another small pack of female employees process the dried soapnuts. The nut is actually split apart where the core is removed leaving essentially the shell. These shells are then packaged stored. Piles of processed nuts were visible during our tour. Shortly they will be boxed and shipped to various vendors.

Soapnuts processed before shipment

Along with soapnuts, the two brothers have expanded their business into spices, herbs, cotton and honey. I was informed I would be able to purchase their spices in the US through various markets very soon.

As fate would have it, one door closed while opening another for this family. Karan commutes between Baijnath and their office in Delhi, so I was unable to meet him. But, his absence provided ample time to ask his brother about his recuperation. Fortunately his legs allow him to walk albeit with a very noticeable limp. He explained he does still have bouts of pain but he’s happy with his life. Happy he can provide for his family in a way he never thought he could, happy he is giving back to his village by employing many of the wives, and happy to see his grand-kids growing up to inherit a very successful Indian born business.