Born and raised in Kampung Columbia, Perak, Ammayi started cooking when she was just 12 years old, following her mother’s treasured recipes from Southern India. Her mother was a first-generation Indian in then Malaya and passed down not only recipes but a way of life using fresh, organic vegetables grown at home and herbs that healed more than just the body.
All thanks to her granddaughter, Kanmani Periannan, who decided that the world needed to taste and treasure her grandmother’s heritage.
Raised by her father (Mr Periannan) and grandmother after her parents’ separation, Kanmani always saw her world through the love of these two pillars. Ammayi wasn’t just her grandmother; she was her anchor, her teacher, and her inspiration.
It was during the pandemic that Kanmani decided to start sharing Ammayi’s world with others. Out of boredom at first, she began posting videos of her grandmother cooking, grating fresh coconut with an old family heirloom, harvesting vegetables, and reviving forgotten traditions. The response was overwhelming millions watched, and many felt a connection to the traditions they’d left behind.
From there, Enga Ammayi was born. What started as a simple sharing of heritage evolved into a thriving homegrown business. Kanmani now crafts handmade products inspired by Ammayi’s recipes traditional herb coffee, Indian pickles, and the famous black pottu paste for infants. Each item carries the history of her family, and the values Ammayi instilled.
Among them, the star is Ammayi’s Sukku Kaapi, a 60-year-old recipe that Ammayi swears by.
And then there’s the Baby Pottu, so popular it sells out in minutes. The process is labour-intensive, especially cleaning the coconut shell (kottankuchi), a task only Kanmani’s father takes on. It takes two full weeks to prepare, but for Kanmani, the effort is worth every moment.
The dedication to quality has reached far beyond their hometown. At a recent bazaar, a family from Qatar came solely to buy Ammayi’s products. Yet, despite the growing demand, the business remains deeply personal.
The “team” is just Kanmani, her father, and her husband (Mr Vinotharan), each pouring their heart into every product.
Any man can be a father, but it takes a true hero to be a dad. Kanmani’dad is winning at life by giving his all to his daughter!
For Kanmani, leaving her stable job to pursue this path was a leap of faith. Her father supported her without hesitation, standing by her dream to keep Ammayi’s traditions alive. Her husband, too has been her pillar of strength.
Speaking about one of the most memorable moment she had with Ammayi :
"One of Kanmani’s fondest memories with Ammayi is from her childhood, riding pillion on her grandmother’s bicycle as Ammayi sold organic vegetables to villagers. She was the only grandchild to share those golden days, moments she knows will never return but will forever remain in her heart."
What’s life without ups and downs, isn’t it?
Kanmani once had a stable job, but now she’s found her true calling in creating homemade products that bring her peace. As a true Rajinikanth fan, she lives by his words:
"Evvalo kaasu panam irunthalum, nimmathi ilena athu waste-uh. Nallavange Vaazhuvange, aana konjam late-uh aagum."
"No matter how much money you have, if you don’t have peace, it’s worthless. And good people will live a good life but it’ll take some time.”
To those who would like to carry on your family legacy, this piece of advice is for you:
“Money shouldn’t be the only goal. Nothing worth having comes easy, and if it does, it won’t last,” says Kanmani.
Today, at 85 years old, Sinnammah is more than just a grandmother. She’s a symbol of cultural preservation, an embodiment of the wisdom and resilience of past generations. Kanmani’s biggest joy isn’t just the business’s success, it’s knowing she has made her grandmother a known and respected name around the world.
In a time when many traditions fade under the weight of modern life, Enga Ammayi stands as a reminder that heritage, when preserved with love, can find new life in the present. Through every jar of pickle, every cup of Sukku Kaapi, and every carefully made Baby Pottu, Ammayi’s legacy continues, not just in her family, but in the hearts of everyone she touches. And perhaps, that’s the real recipe for a meaningful life.