Delicacies of Darjeeling

Every tour is incomplete without talking about the food that we relish. Darjeeling, the queen of the hills, is bestowed with mesmerizing cool atmosphere and misty weather that fills every heart with soothing effect. In addition to it, this place offers an array of scrumptious dishes that suits the taste-buds of every tourist who come here from far and wide places. Unlike other hill stations, Darjeeling does not depend only upon Maggie and its varieties. This is one of the many reasons why the travellers from far across the countries plan to stay for as many days as they want. Let us throw some light upon the exquisites with its unique flavor presented in this place in the following sections.

STEAMY MOMOS

Momos are simple dish originated in the Himalayan regions prepared with white flour dough and minced meat. The steamed little balls when packed beautifully with the mixture of minced meat, onion, ginger and salt attracts every tourist of Darjeeling.

MOMO

The trip becomes successful for each foodie when they see those round dumplings on their plate side dished with a bowl of hot clear soup and red round chilly (Dalley Khorsani) and tomato chutney.

It is a local food available in every restaurant. The momos are traditionally prepared with meat (chicken, mutton, pork, buffalo and beef) but with the greater demand for devout Hindus veg momos have been developed having their own unique tastes. The veg momos are varied – paneer, minced soya bean, cabbage and ishqus. Price varies according to the chosen outlet.

WORLD FAMOUS TEA

Darjeeling tea is the only tea in the world that has been provided protection under Geographical Indication (GI) trademark. These teas are the highest elevation produced teas world over and it is the altitude that creates an ideal environment for the tea plantation.

DARJEELING TEA

The result is that the teas grown here are imparted with a unique muscatel flavor and special aroma.

Seasonally harvested and famous for its traditional orthodox processing, the first flush of Darjeeling tea can be enjoyed with awe and humility. It is a black tea with a lot of silvery tips and a very light colour, aroma and mild astringency. The second flush again is quite popular among the tea lovers as it known to be the most complex black teas in the world with its amber, full bodied cup as its flavor is the intensity of the strong summer sun. the rain and autumn flush yield different tastes with Darjeeling signature flavor but the first and second are mostly in demand.

Black tea certainly dominates the region but Green tea, Oolong tea and White tea are also available in plenty.

MOUTHWATERING THUKPAS

Thukpa is a Tibetan cuisine that gains its popularity due to the soupy base. It is a hot noodle soup consisting of diced veggies, meat, tinge of spices seasoned with fresh herbs and tomato chutney.

THUKPA

The tangy dish can be treated as a wholesome meal as it is delicious and nutritious. Darjeeling has variety of serving of Thukpas for the foodies such as wanton, gyathuk (Chinese noodle), tenthuk (hard-pulled noddle), pathug (hand-rolled noodle) and drethug.

SPICY CHOWMEIN

A semi dry cuisine prepared by frying the noodle with veggies, egg and meat chunks.

CHOWMEIN

The addition of vinegar, tomato sauce and soya sauce with lip smacking flavors of green chilli and freshly chopped herbs enhances the taste of chowmein. The ground spices seasoned from top allures the taste-buds of food enthusiasts.

TANGY AALOO DUM

Even the bland boiled potatoes of this region can become extremely tasty when it is diced into similar size and cooked in the puree of onion and tomato. The Red chilly powder and yellow turmeric gives it a tempting color and the gravy becomes finger licking yum. Topped with bhuja, mimi or wai wai acts as taste enhancers.

ALOODUM

Seasoning with fresh coriander leaves calls it for a definite show. It is locally available everywhere in Darjeeling. It can be enjoyed while resting in Chowrasta, strolling in the Mall or watching the mighty Kancehjunga range.

TAIPO

This is a hybrid form of momo. It is bigger in size than the momos. The filling is enormous with more meat and boiled eggs in it.

Non vegetarian or vegetarian, the mildly spiced and seasoned flavors is sure to give you a treat for the tongue and soul indeed.

SEL ROTI

The most famous traditional ring shaped dough is everybody’s favourite. It is a mildly sweet in taste and crispy as it is fried in oil.

SELROTI

It is a traditional food item which is a prepared and enjoyed during the auspicious festival of Tihar (Diwali). The sweet fragrance of cardamom, ghee and clove enhances the temptation to gulp it one after the other. It is served with hot and spicy curry be it veg or non-veg.

SHA-PHALAY

SHAPHALAY

It is friedbread stuffed with a combination of deeply fried flavors and minced ground meat (beef, chicken, mutton, pork or vegetable), cabbage and spices.

The crimped pretty edge gives it a classy look. It is a Tibetan dish but now has become a local street goodies of Darjeeling and associated hilly regions.

TRADITIONAL NEPALI THALI

Nepali Thali is very interesting with all flavors intact within it. It gives you the pure feel of being in the Himalayas. It comprises of crispy Sel Roti, hot Aloo Dum, Steamed Rice, Local Chicken curry, pork curry, Gundruk ko achaar, Kinema ko chutney, Rayo Saag (leafy vegetable), Kaalo dal, GorkheyChutney, Churpi ko Achaar and Dalle Khorsani.

NEPALI THALI

Usually dessert is not a part of traditional thali yet any sweet item like gulab jamun may be served. Otherwise Kheer is the Nepali dessert prepared normally only at home for special occasion. However, Kathmandu Kitchen has newly introduced this item. The best part of enjoying Nepali Thali is that it is served in copper utensils that increase its dignity.

OTHER ETHNIC THALIS

Darjeeling welcomes the visitors of all places. India, being a diversified land of various culture so is their authentic cuisines. Hence, apart from the Traditional Nepali thali, various other thalis are also available in plenty in the Darjeeling main bazaar restaurants.

Bengali Thalis include mutton curry, fish curry, egg curry along with rice, roti, aaloo sedhdoh (mashed potatoes), papad, two types of veg curry, curd, pickle, onions with green chilly, begun bhaja with gulab jamun as a must dessert item.

Pure vegetarian Thalis are available in authentic restaurants that serve pure veg dishes as Darjeeling welcomes all. Even the Jain thalis (dish prepared without garlic, onion or any sort of root vegetable) are available. Thesethalis include rice, naans, palak paneer, mixed vegetable curry, dal makhani, green salad, papad along with ice cream as dessert.

PLACES TO DEVOUR THESE DELICACIES

Centrally located Nathmulls and Goodricke are famous for catering their services to the leisure travelers and tea lovers. They are not just ordinary tea stalls but a hub of tea history and an informative zone. Kunga, Chopstix are famous for thukpas and momos.Kunga in Gandhi Road, Penangs and Nepali Chulo on Laden La Road are quite famous for their Nepali, Tibetan and Chinese cuisines.For Bengali Thali one can visit Sholo Ana Bengali, Mahakal Restaurant, Hotel Meghma, Shangri La and Padma restaurants are famous for its Bengali cuisines. Lunar Restaurant on Gandhi Road, Kasturi Palace and Hasty Tasty on Hill Cart Road are special pure veg restaurants in Darjeeling.Dekevas, Noryang Tibetan Kitchen, Kunga and Tibet Kitchen are the most prevalenteateries to relish the Tibetan cuisine in its most customary way.

Conclusion

Darjeeling has its charm of inviting foodies and letting them experience various tastes and types of food items. Alongwith that it also allows the visitors to take home some of the most unique items that is rarely found in other parts of the country. They comprise of the pungent round chilly popularly called as Dalley Khorsani. It is available in green and red color. Its fragrance is enough to allure its lovers. It is available in the form of pickle as well. It is often partnered with bamboo shoot for pickles. One can get really lucky to visit during October – December as Darjeeling market if full of succulent oranges. These juicy and tasty oranges are a treat for the body and skin. Many other organic vegetables are always available in the local market. People carry home the lines of white chhurpee and hard chhurpee made of traditional cheese. Overall, Darjeeling is not only famous for its famous landmarks but also for the multiple cuisines that is always a good talk for the explorers.