Varanasi on Plate: Must Try Food in Varanasi

Varanasi which is also known as Banaras or Kashi is one of the oldest cities with a history dating back more than 3000 years. It is also considered one of the holiest cities of the Hindu religion and attracts millions of pilgrims every year. 

As pilgrims arrive, a variety of curious taste buds awaken, and this city has something to satisfy each one.

Here, we will look at the beautiful bond between the people and food of Varanasi.

Historical and cultural significance

Before knowing about the must-eat try let’s have a quick overview of the historical and cultural significance of food in the holy city of Varanasi.

This city has an ancient tradition where food was offered to deities and later shared with people as prasad. The food elaborates on this city’s history. 

Since Aryan culture is found in this holy city non-vegetarian food is not common and vegetarian food is mostly followed except for some Muslim people living there.

The food of this city is influenced by the nearby states Bihar and West Bengal which the city's locals have enhanced by giving different flavors to this food.

Food of Varanasi

The ghats of Varanasi are the beating hearts in the ancient city; without them, there would have been no Kashi. Millions of tourists visit these ghats and their day starts with these ghats. 

One can find a variety of food stalls and shops near these ghats which provide quality food. The day of the people of Varanasi starts with fried food like puris and jalebi. 

Here are some foods that one can try in Varanasi:

Kulhad chai

Kulhad is a small glass that is made of clay and used to serve most beverages and recently they sell pizza in that as well. Banaras can’t get out of these earthen cups even the tourists love these cups. 

So, while exploring the food, sipping some tea from a kulhad and the kulhad masala chai is an emotion and now a ritual for the tourists.

Tamatar chaat

If you are visiting Banaras then this chat becomes a must-try. After having the first bite only you will question everything you want to know about this chaat. This is a lovely mix of tangy and sweet flavors and this is prepared on traditional tawa. 

This chaat is packed with warm spices and a lot of pulpy tomatoes. Locals say this dish is ‘the taste of Kashi’ and this evokes emotions of pride and contentment in them. 

Khichdi

Khichdi is a dish which is a dish that is made of lentils and rice and this dish has an important significance in Banaras. 

The people of Banaras say that the Khichdi is the bride and the garnish is its ornament. The khichdi is served with a garnishing of papad, pickle, and radish. 

For the local people, saturday is Khichdi day. This is a very simple, comforting, and nutritious food. 

Thandai

Whether it's Holi or not, thandai is the holy beverage of Banaras. For the rest of India selling bhang is illegal but in this city, this beverage is known as shiv ka prasad. 

One can get this in every Thandai shop all year round. 

Malaiyyo

This is a popular sweet that is made up of milk froth, sugar, and saffron. This sweet is served chilled. It has a creamy texture and delicate taste which makes it a sinful indulgence in the holiest city.

Banarasi paan

When we say Banaras the first thing that pops to our mind is the Banarsi paan. This is prepared by stuffing betel leaves with a combination of ingredients that include fennel seed, lime, clove powder, etc.

There are a variety of paans that are available in the city which includes meetha paan as well which has flavored gulkand. The locals of this city say that a meal is only completed if you have paan at the end of the meal.

Festivals of Varanasi

Festivals become the best excuse to plan up a vacation and they add an emotion of joy and thrill to the trip. India is a diverse country and there are many festivals which are celebrated here. 

And when we talk about the festivals then talking about the holy cities is unavoidable. Many festivals are celebrated in this holy city like Ganga Mahotsav, Annakut, Bharat Milap, Nakkatayya, etc.

To get the best exploration and unique experience of the food one can visit the holy city at festivals. This is the time when people make the traditional food and offer that food to God, who later serves it to people as prasad.

Best market for food

One can experience the divine food of Varanasi at the local market and on the street. There is no special market that one needs to explore to get the best food. 

One can also ask the local people of the holy city to know more about the best food in the city. 

Conclusion

Varanasi is one of the cities in India that maintains its traditional food. The street food that one gets in this holy city is served in utensils that are made up of natural material and the beverages are sold in earthen pots which are also known as Kulhads.

Not only this, but after use these utensils are discarded and they get mixed into the soil which makes this practice eco-friendly. These utensils make the dining experience warmer.

Also, if you want to experience the city traditionally, then Albeli is a great shop for Banarasi sarees in Varanasi that speaks volumes of its history and craft.