Khokana is a charming small Newari village around 8 kilometres south of Kathmandu, located on the outskirts of Patan.
Mustard oil company
Earthquake Gorkha
November 10, 2025
Emergency rescue!
November 11, 2025STORIES FROM NEPAL
Mustard oil
Khokana has been famous for producing high-quality mustard oil since ancient times.
Jyaasha Oil Mill is one of the last two mills in Khokana, producing the renowned mustard oil.
It was utilised for centuries in Rome, Greece, and India as a culinary and therapeutic remedy.
We were invited in; a story was waiting.
I couldn’t escape the strong, unpleasant smell while struggling with my camera in dim lighting.
Small windows filled with glowing highlights didn’t make things easier for me as a photographer, but they definitely encouraged me to think differently and grow.
Mustard oil can substitute vegetable oil in almost all Indian curries, except maybe those from the South, which are prepared with coconut oil.
Regular customers used to collect mustard seeds in exchange for the oil.
Home—just next door!
Nepali culture needs a specific place to worship the Gods.
Interesting facts about mustard oil
It supports heart health and reduces cancer risks.
Extracted from mustard seeds, this oil provides a range of health benefits.
To remove the odour, it should be heated until it starts to smoke, which will break down some of the compounds deemed unsuitable for consumption.
Mustard oil is highly recommended as it contains a high level of monounsaturated fatty acids.
It’s rich in MUFA, PUFA, Omega 3 & 6, Vitamin E, Minerals, and antioxidants, demonstrating excellent antimicrobial benefits.
It functions as an antibacterial when used both externally and internally. Internally, it targets bacterial infections in the colon, intestines, and other parts of the digestive system, while externally, it battles both bacterial and fungal infections of the skin.
It helps improve circulation, boost metabolism, relieve sinus congestion, and most importantly, stimulate digestion.
The local production isn’t quite meeting the mill’s needs. We can explore ways to improve this and ensure everything runs smoothly.
A mill needs 10,000 kg of mustard seeds each month to operate.
There is no proper quality control for oils imported into Nepal. They might be mixed or not pure.
Whether small mill companies will be able to afford to continue their work or if the next generation will uphold the family tradition remains uncertain; the future is unclear.