About Us

A mantra for living well.

At Roots Mantra, we believe food is more than sustenance. Food is our health, our heritage, and how we connect.

Our journey began with a simple yet profound purpose: to share India's food traditions while honoring the farmers, the communities, and the land and ecosystems that nurture them.

We began with Bihar’s hand-harvested makhana, a superfood that has nourished generations. But this is only the start.

Every product we bring to you carries a story of timeless traditions, wholesome nourishment, and enduring resilience. By working directly with farming families and cooperatives, we ensure fair wages, sustainable cultivation, and a future where rural India can thrive.

For us, authenticity means no shortcuts and no compromises. Just pure, nutrient-rich foods that reconnect you to the roots of food traditions. When you choose Roots Mantra, you're not only nourishing yourself, but also uplifting communities and protecting the earth for generations to come.

Because true wellness begins at the roots and food isn’t just what we eat, it’s a mantra for living well.

Our Founders’ Story

Roots Mantra started with two friends: Priya Palni, a retired Army officer from the Himalayas with deep ties to India’s rural communities and traditions, and Lisa Patel, a U.S.-based international development professional and daughter of immigrants from Gujarat, whose ancestral farming heritage and passion for sharing her culture have always inspired her.

Though their paths began worlds apart, they share a common vision: to honor the wisdom of India's food traditions and create opportunities for the farmers and communities who sustain them.

Priya brings her expertise in supply chains and her lived connection to India; Lisa brings her global development expertise and commitment to building bridges across cultures. Together, they founded Roots Mantra not just as a company, but as a movement to share foods rooted in India's soil and traditions with families around the world.