Frequently Asked Questions
Ordering
How do I place an order?
Browse the shop, tap “+ ADD” on any product, review your cart, and check out with UPI, card, net-banking, wallet, or Cash on Delivery. You’ll receive an instant confirmation on WhatsApp and email.
Do I need an account to order?
No — you can check out as a guest with just a mobile number and delivery address. Creating a free account lets you track orders, save addresses, and re-order favourites with one tap.
What’s the minimum order value?
There’s no minimum order value. Orders above ₹999 ship free; below that we add a flat ₹79 shipping fee at checkout.
Can I order in bulk for festivals, weddings, or corporate gifting?
Yes. For bulk enquiries above 25 units, write to hello@tastelokal.in with the products, quantities, and delivery date — we’ll send a custom quote within 24 hours.
Products & Quality
Where are your products sourced?
Directly from artisan makers across Bihar — heritage families who’ve been making these foods for generations. We name the village, district, and (where applicable) the GI tag on every product page. No middlemen, no reselling, no “factory” food masquerading as regional.
Are your products FSSAI-licensed?
Every maker we source from holds a valid FSSAI licence. Our central packing and dispatch facility is also FSSAI-registered. The licence number appears on each outer carton and at the bottom of this page.
How long do products stay fresh?
Each product page lists its specific shelf life — typically 30–60 days for sweets, 6 months for namkeen and papad, 12 months for sealed achar, and so on. We dispatch with a minimum 75% remaining shelf life from the printed best-before date.
Why do these foods taste different from packaged versions I’ve eaten?
Heritage regional foods carry their own character — they’re hand-crafted in small batches by makers who keep recipes intact across generations. Silao Khaja from Nalanda will taste different from a Western-style baked pastry, just as Mithila Pedakiya is its own thing, not gujiya. If something doesn’t meet your expectation, write to us — we want every customer to experience the genuine thing.
Do you sell any sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan items?
Many traditional Bihari foods are naturally vegan (Sattu, Makhana, all achars, papad, most namkeen) or gluten-free (Madua flour, Sattu, Mahua, Kala Til). Each product page tags applicable diet attributes. Sugar-free options coming soon.
Shipping & Delivery
Where do you ship?
Across India to all serviceable pincodes via Shiprocket, Delhivery, and India Post. At checkout your pincode is checked automatically.
How long does delivery take?
2–4 business days within Bihar metros (Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur); 4–6 days to Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai; 5–7 days to most other Indian cities; 7–10 days to North-East, J&K, and Andaman & Nicobar. See our full Shipping Policy.
How do I track my order?
Once dispatched you receive a WhatsApp + email message with the courier name, tracking number, and a live tracking link. Logged-in users can also see all orders at My Account → Orders.
Do you offer Cash on Delivery?
Yes, for most pincodes. A small ₹40 handling fee is added at checkout. COD orders may require OTP verification on the registered mobile number before dispatch.
What if my package is damaged?
Photograph the unopened outer carton, note “damaged on arrival” on the courier’s sheet, and send the photos on WhatsApp within 24 hours. We’ll replace or refund — your choice. See our Return Policy for the full process.
Payments
What payment methods do you accept?
UPI (PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, BHIM, all UPI apps), credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, RuPay, Amex), net-banking (50+ banks), wallets, EMI, and Cash on Delivery. All online payments are processed by Razorpay.
Is online payment safe?
Yes. We never see or store your card or UPI details — those are handled directly by Razorpay’s PCI-DSS-compliant payment infrastructure. The site runs entirely on HTTPS.
When will I get my refund?
UPI refunds reach you in 1–3 business days, cards in 5–7 days, COD via UPI in 5–7 days. See our Cancellation & Refund Policy.
About TasteLokal
What is TasteLokal?
An Indian heritage-food marketplace bringing district-anchored, GI-tagged, and family-recipe regional foods to your doorstep — starting with Bihar (Silao Khaja, Mithila Makhana, Katarni Chura, Marcha Rice, Maner Laddu, and 40+ more). Expanding to other states soon.
Why focus on Bihar first?
Because the food tradition is rich, the recipes are intact, the makers are small, and the rest of India barely knows what they’re missing. We’re building the trust + logistics rails here, then scaling the model.
How can my family / village product be listed?
If you make a traditional regional food at FSSAI-licensed scale, we’d love to talk. Email hello@tastelokal.in with your product, location, and a few photos.
How do I get in touch?
WhatsApp is fastest. Otherwise email or our contact form. Working hours 10 AM – 7 PM, Monday to Saturday.
Last updated: 14 June 2026