National Foods

National Foods is the largest name in Pakistani spice mixes — the yellow-and-red pack that has sat in almost every kitchen since 1970. What started with salt and simple spices in Karachi is now a full grocery brand: recipe masalas, ketchup, pickles, jams, custard powders and dessert mixes.

What National Foods Actually Makes

The range AkBaat stocks in Kasur falls into five families:

Recipe masalas — the core of the brand. Biryani, Bombay Biryani, Qorma, Karahi, Nihari, Haleem, Fish, Chat Masala and dozens more. One pack, one dish, no guesswork.

Ketchup and sauces — National Ketchup comes in sizes from single-serve 30ml sachets up to family bottles, plus chilli garlic and imli options.

Custard and jelly — vanilla, mango and strawberry custard powders and jelly crystals, the base of every Pakistani dinner-party trifle.

Pickles and jams — mixed achar, mango achar, apple and mixed-fruit jams for breakfast.

Kitchen staples — iodized salt, pink Himalayan salt, red chilli powder, coriander powder, kasuri methi and other ground spices.

Buying Tips

• Match pack size to your pot. 50g masala packs suit 1kg meat. Cooking for guests? Take two packs instead of stretching one.
• Check the range before defaulting to Biryani Masala. Bombay Biryani (potato-heavy, tangier) and Sindhi Biryani (spicier) are different recipes, not just different names.
• Custard powder keeps. Unopened packs last months in a dry cupboard — buying two saves a delivery later.

Browse recipe masalas, ketchup and sauces or custard and jelly to see the full range.