Growing up in Shimla, the forest wasn’t something we “went to”. It was simply there – around us, behind the house, across the road. It was part of daily life. We played on the slopes, slipped on the pine needles, followed old trails and it was not adventure, it was life. Evenings meant picking up lakdi for the fire, and on the way back, grabbing berries if we saw any. At home, rooftops had something or the other drying in the sun – apricots, herbs, whatever nature gave that season.
Then came April and May, when the thunderstorms were a bit more regular. The rain would settle the dust, the ground would soften, and the forest floor somehow looked different the next morning. That’s when guchhi, the wild morel mushroom, started showing up.
As kids, we didn’t see it the way people talk about it now. It wasn’t rare or premium or anything fancy. It was just something we occasionally stumbled upon while roaming around or doing small chores. But there was this belief the elders carried – that you’d only find guchhi if you were lucky that day, or if your greh matched with the mushroom. We didn’t think deeply about it, but it made the moment you spotted one feel a bit special.
Some days you came home with empty hands.
Some days you found just one.
And sometimes, if luck really was on your side, you gathered a small handful – enough for the mothers at home to clean and dry for later.
None of it felt extraordinary back then. It was simply a part of growing up in the mountains. And without even realising it, these small routines taught us something – to notice nature, to respect it, and to never assume it owes you anything.
Years later, now when we started Vrozart Agro, these same memories shaped the way we wanted to build the brand. Guchhi, for me, isn’t just a product. It’s a reminder of childhood habits, simple days, and the natural rhythm of life in the hills.
At Vrozart Agro, we try to keep that same sincerity – sourcing our products with care, working with people who understand nature, and never taking from mother earth more than it can give.
