In South Indian kitchens you are sure to find Pigeon pea cooked almost every day. It is the staple diet served as an accompaniment with another staple diet of the region: Rice. Dal is prepared in most … [Read more...]
Pepper
One of the reasons for a number of invasions on India was for the priced spices like Pepper. They found their way to South India by sea to take away as much of spices as they … [Read more...]
Sorghum
Sorghum is known as Jower in India and belongs to Poaceae (grass) family. It is a native of Australia, Africa, and Asia. It is known as Jola in Kannada and is the staple diet of North Karnataka, … [Read more...]
Aloe Vera Plant
Aloe Vera known as Lole sara in Kannada was known to us even before it came to the forefront in all health care advertisements. There was an Aloe plant in my maternal grandfather’s house in Kurtakoti … [Read more...]
Mangosteen
Not many of us had heard the existence of Mangosteen fruit, which is a native of South East Asia. Highest producing country is Thailand. I tasted this fruit for the first time in 2008 in Pondicherry … [Read more...]
Brinjal – Eggplant – Aubergine
Brinjal - Eggplant - Aubergine are the most popular name of this vegetable. Eggplant is also known as Aubergine in British English and Brinjal in South and Southeast Asia and South Africa. … [Read more...]
Rice – Paddy – Chawal
Beautiful green blades of paddy swishing to the music of the wind and Egrets dotting the field to feed on insects or the left over seeds is a common scene you encounter as you travel in South and East … [Read more...]
Teak tree
Teak tree is the most precious deciduous tree in India and as you traverse into Western Ghats, you come across these trees gloriously growing on the slopes of the hills. Common names are Indian … [Read more...]
Stone Flower
Stone Flower is a Lichen and belongs to Parmeliaceae family. In Kannada it is known as Kallu Hoovu, Hindi it is Kalpassi and Pathar Ke Phool. Botanical name is Lichen Parmelia. When visiting … [Read more...]
Tea
Chai as it is known in India is a favorite beverage across the country. If you ever travel in India by train you are sure to be woken by the chaiwala’s (Tea seller) call. Served in earthen ware, paper … [Read more...]
Mint
Mint is known as Pudina in India and is prominently used in Indian cuisines. Botanical name is Mentha longifolia and belong to Lamiaceae family. Mint is derived from the Greek name Mentha. It is … [Read more...]
Mustard
In Indian cuisine, the first spice that is added while preparing a dish to heated Oil is the Mustard Seeds. It is only when they pop that the other ingredients follow one by one. Asia and … [Read more...]
Custard Apple
Custard Apple is also known as Sugar Apple and Sharifa in Hindi. In most of the other Indian languages it is known as Sitaphal. Annona Squamosa is the botanical name belonging to Annonaceae … [Read more...]
Pomelo
Also known as Shaddock, Jabong, Grape Fruit, Chakkotha in Kannada, and Madhukarkati in Sanskrit, Pomelo is the largest citrus fruit belonging to family Rutaceae. Botanical name is Citrus … [Read more...]
Carambola – Star Fruit
Carambola is a fruit native to Indian Sub-continent and South East Asia. This fruit bearing tropical tree is now grown in other parts of the world. When you cut the fruit into roundels, instead of … [Read more...]
Fig Tree
Other common names of Fig Tree are Cluster Fig Tree, Indian Fig Tree or Goolar (Gular) Fig. It is a native of Australia, India, and South-East Asia. Botanical name is Ficus racemosa and belongs to … [Read more...]
Ondelaga – Brahmi – Gotu Kola
We are all aware of Brahmi because of Brahmi Amla Kesh Thel (Brahmi – Gooseberry – hair oil) that is manufactured by leading cosmetic brands in India. Botanical name of Ondelaga – Brahmi – Gotu Kola … [Read more...]
Carrot
Carrot Kosambari is a favorite and a very common traditional salad in Mysore so is Carrot Halwa in North India. While teething, babies are given a piece of peeled Carrot to gnaw so as to comfort the … [Read more...]
Ganika Patram – Garden Night Shade
Ganika Patram is known as Kasi Soppu in Kannada, Makoi in Hindi, and Manathakali in Tamil. Botanical name is Solanum nigrum and belong to Solanaceae family. Other English common names are European … [Read more...]
Tomato
Tomato Saru, Tomato Bhajji (raitha), Tomato Chutney, Tomato Onion Chitranna (Rice) were some of the dishes enjoyed while growing up. Never gave a thought to this fantastic fruit used as a … [Read more...]
