Overview
Summary
What works? The khila-khila texture, convenient packaging, quick cooking time, and fresh-tasting peanuts and curry leaves. What doesn’t? The raw texture of the veggies, bitter-tasting mustard seeds, off-putting oily aroma, and lack of softness of the upma.
A piping hot bowl of upma defines comfort for some. While nothing can beat the taste of a fresh homemade upma, many brands today are trying to replicate similar flavors in convenient packaging.
ITC Aashirvaad offers a range of instant meals including poha, idli sambar and upma. We tested the veggie upma to check how close it comes to a homestyle one. Is it able to mimic similar taste and texture? Our ITC Aashirvaad Instant Veggie Upma review covers it all.
Table of Contents
ITC Aashirvaad Instant Veggie Upma – Quick Glance
Here is a table highlighting the product details of ITC Aashirvaad Instant Veggie Upma :
| ITC Aashirvaad Instant Veggie Upma | Product Details |
| Price | Rs. 55 |
| Net Quantity | 80 gm |
| Shelf Life | 9 months |
| Mishry Rating
(out of 5) |
2.50 |
Our Review Factors
What were we looking for? Characterized by the soft texture of cooked sooji with bursts of flavors emerging from ginger, curry leaves, mustard seeds, green chillies, nuts and roasted dal.
We are looking for a homestyle upma with a khila-khila texture, fresh-tasting veggies, and curry leaves packed in a convenient cup pack.
We tested ITC Aashirvaad Instant Veggie Upma on the following parameters :
1. Taste
While judging the taste of an instant upma, we gauge the freshness of the veggies and curry leaves. We took note of how balanced the seasoning is. Since this upma is ready to eat, does it have any undesirable aftertaste? Is the taste of roasted sooji prominent?
2. Texture
ITC Aashirvaad Instant Veggie Upma has different components. From the fluffiness of the upma to the crunch of the veggies, dal, peanuts and sesame seeds we noted everything. Does this instant upma come close to a homestyle texture? Too dry, too wet or just right?
3. Aroma
A homestyle upma has a noticeable aroma of ghee. Did we observe the same thing here? On opening the cup, did we notice any off-putting oily aroma?
4. Other Observations
Packaging
How well is this upma packed? Does it include a spoon? Is the packaging travel-friendly?
Ingredients
What are the main ingredients used? Does it contain any preservatives, added flavors, or additives? What is the source of oil or fat used?
Cooking Method
Are the instructions for preparing the upma mentioned clearly? Is it quick to cook or takes up time? Does it require too many add ons/ingredients for preparation?
Also Read : Your quest for the Best Ready To Eat Upma For A Quick Breakfast ends here.
ITC Aashirvaad Instant Veggie Upma – Detailed Review
Here’s what we found while reviewing ITC Aashirvaad Instant Veggie Upma.
Product Inspection & Aroma: ITC Aashirvaad Instant Veggie Upma comes in a cup-shaped box. The lid has a green color while the cup has a red color. Inside the cup, there is a foldable red spoon included. The cup is wide-mouthed which makes mixing in the water easy. The packaging is convenient and travel friendly.
How to prepare this instant upma? The pack mentions preparing the upma in the following way :
- Remove contents from the cup and add boiling water till watermark. – (Approx 160 ml).
- Empty the upma mix and the cup and mix well.
- Keep the lid closed for 5 mins and mix again.
- It’s ready.
This instant upma was easy to prepare. The water level indicator makes the preparation easier. The upma cooked up perfectly in the mentioned time frame of 5 minutes.
Ingredients: Semolina is the prime ingredient. It uses refined palmolein as the main source of fat followed by ghee. It also mentions the use of chana dal, urad dal apart from dehydrated vegetables like carrots, onions, green chilli and garlic. The ingredient list mentions the use of groundnuts, white sesame seeds and cashew nuts as well.
Salt, mustard, sugar, cumin and curry leaves are used to flavor this.
The pack also contains an anticaking agent and acidity regulator.
Per 100 gm, this instant upma offers 415 kcal of energy, 11.8 gm of protein, 9.4 gm of fat, and 70.9 gm of carbohydrate.
Taste: ITC’s Instant Veggie Upma has medium spice and balanced salt levels. The peanuts taste fresh and add a signature nutty flavor. The freshness of the curry leaves and the distinctive sweetness of the carrots are commendable.
Here’s what did not work for us. A traditional homemade upma has a prominent flavor of ghee. Even though the ingredient list mentioned its use, we could not taste this at all. The mustard seeds feel raw and lend a bitter aftertaste.
The onions did not rehydrate well and appeared uncooked. Hence, they had a raw unpleasant taste. Overall, the upma is average tasting.
Texture: The amount of water mentioned on the pack is sufficient to prepare the upma. We liked how khila-khila and well separated the granules of semolina looked. It is not a gloopy mass. The peanuts and dal are crunchy. However, the texture of the veggies (onions, carrots) was not up to the mark.
The onions are not rehydrated. Whereas, the carrots are too tiny and lack a firm bite. The sesame seeds lack a pronounced crunch too.
Though the fluffiness of the upma makes it close to that of homemade one, it lacks the signature softness.
Pros
- The packaging is convenient.
- It is quick to prepare.
- We liked the separated, fluffy texture of semolina. It is well-roasted.
- The water level indicator is helpful.
- The peanuts add a nice nutty flavor.
- Curry leaves are fresh tasting.
- The dal is well cooked and adds a nice crunch.
- Salt levels are balanced.
Cons
- There is an undesirable aroma of oil which we did not appreciate.
- The onions did not rehydrate and taste raw.
- It misses out on the flavor and aroma of ghee.
- The mustard seeds are raw and lend a bitter aftertaste.
- Carrots are too tiny and lack a firm bite.
Related Reading : Haldiram’s Upma Instant Mix Review
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some interesting FAQs on ITC Aashirvaad Instant Veggie Upma.
1. What is the shelf life of this instant upma?
This instant upma has a shelf life of 9 months.
2. Can this upma be prepared in lukewarm water?
No. For best results, it is ideal to use boiling water. Using lukewarm water might affect the overall experience of having this instant upma.
3. Is the upma too spicy?
No. This upma has a medium spice level.
4. Does this upma contain preservatives?
No. This has no added preservatives. But this instant upma contains INS 330 which apart from playing the role of an acidity regulator, also helps preserve food.
5. How many people can this upma serve approximately?
A single pack of this upma is ideal for one person.
Final Words
Though ITC’s Aashirvaad Instant Veggie Upma is convenient to cook, it is not impressive taste and texture wise. We liked the well-roasted sooji, fresh tasting curry leaves, crunchy dal and peanuts. The onions, oily aroma, and the fact that the signature flavor and aroma of ghee were missing are a few factors that did not work for us.
Are you a fan of instant upma? Which is your go to brand?
Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.
