Perambalur Small Onions

Pungent, pink-violet small onions (shallots) from Perambalur district, home of the GI-registered Chettikulam small onion. Graded and packed to your specification.

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Availability is seasonal and confirmed at the time of quotation. Nothing on this page is an offer of stock.

Geographical Indication

Perambalur district is home to the Chettikulam small onion, which is registered as a Geographical Indication (GI) of Tamil Nadu. The GI recognises small onions grown in the Chettikulam area of Alathur block, where sulphur-rich soils are linked to the onion’s strong pungency and flavour. Ask us about sourcing from the GI-registered area.

About Perambalur Small Onions

Small onions are the product MGA is built around. Known in Tamil as chinna vengayam and widely called sambar onions or shallots, they are the small, clustered multiplier onions (Allium cepa var. aggregatum) that are essential to South Indian cooking. We are based in Perambalur district, one of Tamil Nadu’s main small-onion growing areas, and source directly from the region.

What makes them distinctive

Small, rounded to teardrop-shaped bulbs that grow in clusters rather than as single large onions
Thin, glossy skins in pink, red and violet shades, with firm, layered flesh
Strong pungency and aroma, prized for sambar, chutneys, curries, pickles and tempering
Grown in red, well-drained soils; in the Chettikulam area these soils are rich in sulphur, which is associated with the onion’s sharp flavour

The Chettikulam GI

The Chettikulam small onion was registered as a Geographical Indication following an application filed in 2022 by the Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Marketing Board and the Chettikulam Small Onion Farmers’ Producer Association, with support from the NABARD–Madurai Agri Business Incubation Forum. A GI protects the name of a product whose qualities come from its place of origin.

If you specifically need GI-origin onions, tell us in your enquiry and we will confirm what we can supply and the documentation available for it.

Grading and sizing

We sort and grade bulbs by diameter to the size band you specify. Buyers commonly ask for bands such as 15–25 mm, 25–35 mm and 35–45 mm, but we grade to your own specification. Bulbs are dried and cured before packing, and checked to remove damaged, sprouted or soft bulbs.

Packing

Packing is agreed with you before we quote. Common formats for small onions include ventilated mesh bags and jute bags in sizes such as 5, 10, 20 or 25 kg, as well as cartons for retail-ready orders. Labelling can follow your market’s requirements.

Seasons and supply

Small onions are harvested in more than one season each year in Tamil Nadu, and growers store cured bulbs between harvests. Availability, size mix and pricing change with the season, so we confirm what is available when we quote.

Shipping care

Onions are living produce and need airflow. We discuss suitable container options (for example, ventilated or temperature-controlled containers), loading and transit time with you and your forwarder for each destination.

Specifications

Specifications for Perambalur Small Onions
Origin	Perambalur district, Tamil Nadu, India
Variety	Small onion / shallot (Allium cepa var. aggregatum)
Forms available	Fresh, dried and cured bulbs
Packaging options	Mesh or jute bags, cartons – agreed per order
Availability	Multiple harvests a year – confirmed at quotation
Local names	Chinna vengayam, sambar onion
Skin colour	Pink, red to violet
Size grading	By bulb diameter, to buyer specification
GI connection	Chettikulam small onion (Perambalur district)
Typical uses	Sambar, chutneys, curries, pickles, retail

Final specification, grade, packing and documentation are confirmed in writing in your quotation. If you need a value not shown here, include it in your enquiry.

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