For decades, mustard oil was the heart of Indian cooking. Whether it was for deep frying pakoras, preparing pickles, or applying on newborn babies for massage, mustard oil held cultural, culinary, and medicinal importance. Yet over the last few generations, this oil mysteriously vanished from urban kitchens. Refined oils, western influence, and misleading health trends played a huge role in pushing mustard oil out.
But things are changing. Today, conscious consumers, health experts, and traditional food lovers are bringing mustard oil back to the spotlight especially wood-pressed mustard oil that retains purity and nutrients. Brands like Arth Agro Farms are making this return possible by offering high-quality, chemical-free mustard oil sourced from native black mustard seeds.
How Mustard Oil Lost Its Place in Indian Kitchens
1. Fear of Pungency and Heavy Flavour
As cities expanded and food habits changed, people began preferring lighter, neutral-flavored oils. Mustard oil for cooking was seen as too strong or overpowering, especially by younger generations unfamiliar with its benefits. It was wrongly labelled as old-fashioned or rural.
2. The Rise of Refined Oils
The market was flooded with heavily marketed oils like sunflower, soybean, and vegetable oil. The term refined oil sounded modern and healthy, even though these oils go through chemical processing and lose most of their nutrients. In contrast, kacchi ghani mustard oil is extracted without heat or chemicals, making it far more nutritious.
3. Western Influence and Diet Trends
With globalisation, olive oil and canola oil became trendy, promoted as healthy by lifestyle influencers. These oils suit colder climates and western diets, but not Indian cooking methods, which involve high heat and spice blends. As a result, mustard oil, with its high smoke point and natural resistance to rancidity, was unfairly sidelined.
Why Mustard Oil Is Making a Comeback
1. Rediscovery of Traditional Indian Oils
As consumers move toward natural and traditional ingredients, wood pressed mustard oil is gaining traction. The cold extraction method retains antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and essential vitamins, making it not only safe but also healing.
People are realising that mustard oil benefits go far beyond cooking it’s also great for the skin, hair, and even immunity.
2. Stronger Focus on Heart and Digestive Health
Contrary to old myths, pure mustard oil for cooking is actually heart-friendly when consumed in moderation. Its natural fats help manage cholesterol, support digestion, and even aid in reducing inflammation.
Health-conscious buyers are now switching back to unrefined oils, especially those that are lab-tested, chemical-free, and single-ingredient, like the one from Arth Agro Farms.
3. High Heat Cooking Friendly
Indian food often requires high heat for tadkas, frying, and roasting spices. Refined oils break down at high temperatures and form harmful compounds. In contrast, mustard oil for Indian cooking has a high smoke point, making it stable even at high temperatures without losing its nutrition or flavor.
4. Ayurveda Approves Mustard Oil
In Ayurveda, mustard oil is known as a warming oil, suitable for balancing vata and kapha doshas. It helps in boosting blood circulation, improving digestion, and fighting cold symptoms. From joint massage to nasal clearing steam therapy, mustard oil has dozens of healing applications.
Arth Agro Farms: Bringing Back Real Mustard Oil
What sets Arth Agro Farms wood pressed mustard oil apart is its purity and process. The oil is extracted using traditional wooden kolhus at low temperatures, which helps preserve the oil's original aroma, colour, and nutrient value. It is:
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100% pure and unblended
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Sourced from native black mustard seeds
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Free from chemicals and preservatives
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Suitable for both cooking and external use
When you open a bottle of Arth Agro Farms mustard oil, the aroma immediately reminds you of your childhood kitchen or grandmother’s winter massage rituals.
5 Ways to Use Mustard Oil Today
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Cooking: Perfect for curries, tadkas, frying snacks, and roasting spices
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Pickle Making: Its antibacterial properties keep homemade pickles fresh for months
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Hair Massage: Strengthens roots and controls dandruff
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Body Massage: Ideal in winters to improve blood flow and relieve joint pain
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Cold & Cough Remedy: Used in steam therapy or rubbed on the chest for relief
Conclusion
The return of mustard oil isn’t just a trend it’s a return to roots, to health, and to balance. After years of processed oils and dietary confusion, Indian households are waking up to the wisdom of their ancestors. And in that wisdom, mustard oil is gold.
If you're ready to make the switch, start with wood pressed black mustard oil from Arth Agro Farms. It’s clean, strong, and made the traditional way the way your body understands and your food deserves.
