Kachi Ghani, Chekku, Marachekku, Kolhu: What Do These Oil Names Mean?

Walk through markets in different states and you will hear many names for traditionally made oil. They mostly describe the same idea: seeds pressed slowly, without chemicals, using a traditional press.

The names, region by region

• Kachi ghani (Hindi, North India): “kachi” means raw – seeds pressed raw, without high heat. Most often used for mustard oil.
• Kolhu (Hindi/Punjabi): the traditional oil press itself.
• Chekku (Tamil): the press. “Chekku ennai” means oil from the press.
• Marachekku (Tamil): “maram” means wood – so this is specifically a wooden press.
• Gana / ganada enne (Kannada): oil from the traditional press.
• Wood-pressed: the English term for oil from a wooden ghani.

What about “cold-pressed”?

It is a broad label meaning no external heat was used. It can cover a wooden ghani, but it is also used for fast steel expellers. If you want the traditional method specifically, look for “wood-pressed”, “marachekku” or “kachi ghani”.

What “refined” and “filtered” mean

• Refined: processed with heat and often chemicals, then bleached and deodorised.
• Filtered: pressed and filtered, but the pressing method varies – check the label.
• Blended: a mix of two or more oils. The label must state the proportion.

How to read an oil label

1. Look for the FSSAI licence number.
2. Check the pressing method and the word “unrefined”.
3. Read the ingredients – a single-seed oil should list just one seed.
4. Note the packing date and best-before – fresh oil tastes better.

All Hampi Pure® oils are wood-pressed and unrefined. Shop the range.