Why we picked it
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Baked with wood-pressed groundnut oil the brand presses itself. No palm oil, no vanaspati.
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Whole wheat and ragi, no maida.
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Eleven ingredients, each listed with its percentage.
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No bread improvers, emulsifiers or preservatives on the list.
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We are being straight about sugar. Misri is sugar, so this is a lower-sugar rusk, not a sugar-free one.
What to look for in Cookies & Rusks?
What to look for in Cookies & Rusks?
- 01Read the first ingredient. If it is maida or refined wheat flour, the biscuit is mostly white flour, whatever the front of the pack says about millets.
- 02Check the fat. Butter, ghee or a named cold-pressed oil is what you want. Palm oil, vanaspati or an unnamed edible vegetable oil is the cheaper default.
- 03Jaggery, dates and misri are still sugar. Read the added sugar line on the nutrition panel, not just the words no refined sugar.
- 04Sugar free is not accurate on a biscuit sweetened with jaggery, dates or misri. All three count as sugar.
- 05Look for raising agents and emulsifiers such as INS 500, INS 503 or INS 322. A short list without them is a good sign.
- 06Check the shelf life. A few months points to small fresh batches. A year or more usually means preservatives or heavy processing.
What's inside
Whole wheat atta, not maida. 37% of the rusk and the largest ingredient.
Finger millet, 22% of the rusk. Gives the brown colour and an earthy taste.
15% of the rusk, pressed by the brand in their own wooden press. It replaces the palm oil or vanaspati most rusks are baked with.
11% of the rusk. Crystallised sugar made the traditional way, without sulphur. It is still sugar.
7% of the rusk: sunflower seeds 3%, almonds 2%, cashews 2%.
4% of the rusk. Unrefined cane sugar.
Makes the bread rise before it is sliced and baked again into rusk.
About 1% together. Salt for taste, turmeric mainly for colour.
About 1% together. Cardamom for aroma, ajwain for a light savoury note.
Early Foods Ragi Millet Rusk vs other rusks
| What to compare | Purepicked | Regular rusks |
|---|---|---|
| Base flour | Whole wheat atta and ragi | Maida (refined wheat flour) |
| Sweetener | Misri and jaggery | Refined white sugar |
| Fat | Wood-pressed groundnut oil | Palm oil or hydrogenated vegetable fat |
| Additives | None on the list | Bread improvers, emulsifiers and preservatives |
| Shelf life | 4 months | 6 to 12 months |
Nutrition facts · per 100 g
- Energy
- 426 kcal
- Protein
- 11.5 g
- Carbohydrate
- 62 g
- Total sugars
- 14.5 g
- Added sugars
- 11.1 g
- Dietary fibre
- 11.3 g
- Total fat
- 17 g
- Saturated fat
- 3.6 g
- Trans fat
- 0 g
- Cholesterol
- 0 mg
- Salt
- 0.8 g
How to use it
- Dip in morning chai or coffee
- A crunchy after-school snack with milk
- Pack two in the tiffin for a dry, mess-free snack
- Crumble over a bowl of curd or kheer
- Eat with a little butter or nut butter on top
Is it for you?
Good for
Families moving off maida rusks
Anyone avoiding palm oil
Vegetarians, as there is no egg or dairy on the ingredient list
Kids who can chew well
Avoid if
Anyone avoiding gluten, as it is made with whole wheat
Anyone with a nut allergy, as it has almonds and cashews
Anyone with a severe dairy allergy, as it is made in a facility that handles dairy
Anyone looking for a sugar-free rusk. Misri and jaggery are both sugar
Product details
- Sold by
- Purepicked
- Brand
- Early Foods
- Net quantity
- 82 g
- Type
- Cookies & Rusks
Also on the label
Questions people ask
What is it made from?
It is made from whole wheat atta and 22% ragi, baked with wood-pressed groundnut oil instead of palm oil. It is sweetened with misri and a little jaggery. No maida.
Is it sugar-free?
No. Misri is crystallised sugar and jaggery is still sugar. Think of it as a lower-sugar rusk, not a sugar-free one.
Who should avoid it?
Anyone avoiding gluten, as it is made with whole wheat, and anyone with a nut allergy, as it has almonds and cashews. It is made in a facility that handles dairy.
Why is the verdict Caution?
The pack says a serving is 2 pieces, about 16g, but its own figures only work out at about 25g. We have used the brand's per 100g figures and are checking the serving size with them.
How do I eat it?
Dip it in morning chai or coffee, have it with milk after school, or top it with a little butter or nut butter.
Still unsure? Ask us on WhatsApp