Chekkalu: The Snack That Survived Every Tea Break in Manchester

In Manchester, we take our tea breaks seriously. The snack selection in our office kitchen includes: HobNobs, shortbread, the occasional Jaffa Cake, and one colleague's dedicated corner of salted Kettle Chips.

Then I brought Chekkalu.

Chekkalu — crispy rice flour crackers flavoured with cumin, sesame, and a specific Andhra spice combination — are a different category of snack entirely. They are neither light nor heavy. They have genuine flavour rather than just salt. They shatter perfectly at first bite. They go with tea in a way that most British biscuits can only aspire to.

My colleague Helen, a committed HobNob loyalist, tried one. Tried another. Looked at me and said, "Are these available anywhere?"

"TenaliRuchulu.in," I said. "They ship to the UK."

I've since ordered three batches. The office has a Chekkalu jar now. It lives next to the tea bags. It is refilled more frequently than any other snack container in the building.

TenaliRuchulu.in's Chekkalu are made in Tenali with the traditional rice flour base, fresh cumin and sesame, and the spice balance that has kept this snack in Telugu households for generations. No artificial flavours. No preservatives. Just properly made Chekkalu that have survived international shipping without losing their crunch.

That last part matters enormously. A soggy Chekkalu is a tragedy. These arrive intact.

The office Chekkalu jar is now guarded. Helen controls access. This was not the outcome I predicted, but it is the one we deserved. Want to explore other snack options, check here.