Winter Foods You Must Experience On Your Next Trip To Kolkata

Kolkata is a treasure trove for gastronomes from all over the world. From the British and Mughal times to regional cuisines, the culinary scene exhibits the melting pot influences of numerous ethnicities. The people of the City of Joy love talking about food, it's like a favourite pastime. Every season brings with it special treats that are unique to the period. Though winters in Kolkata are notoriously short, there are several special winter foods that you must experience on your visit to the city. For instance, nolen gur or new jaggery made from the sap of date palm trees, and the mishti (sweets) made from nolen gur can be found in restaurant menus and sweet shops across the city

Nolen Gurer Mishti

Bengalis wait for winter to enjoy the delicious nectar of nolen gur, the new jaggery made from date palm sap. The gur, harvested between November and February in West Bengal, has a distinct flavour and scent and is available in liquid, grainy, and solid forms. If you are in Kolkata in winter, you cannot miss the sweets and delicacies prepared with this fresh date palm jaggery. Nolen gur is used to make a variety of Bengali sweets, ranging from spongy rosogollas to sandesh to payesh, a type of rice pudding, and patishapta, a kind of crepe or pancakes with a stuffing of grated coconut laced with nolen gur.

Our Recommendations

1. Balaram Mullick and Radharaman Mullick: They have multiple outlets in Kolkata.

2. Girish Chandra Dey and Nakur Chandra Nandy

   Address: 56, Ramdulal Sarkar St, near Bethune College, Hedua, Kolkata, West Bengal 700006

Moa

The ball-shaped delicacy comprises Kanakchur khoi (puffed rice made from a special aromatic variety), date palm jaggery, cardamom, and ghee. It's preferable if the jaggery used is poyra gur (produced from the first sap of the season). While moa is made in several areas, it is the one from the town of Joynagar near Kolkata that is the real deal and a winter must-have for Bengali households. In fact, Joynagarer Moa was given a Geographical Indication tag in 2015.

Our Recommendation

You can pick up boxes from the old markets of Kolkata, such as Lake Market and Gariahat Market.

Koraishutir Kochuri

Among the city's most loved snacks is kochuri (a kind of fried puffy bread) and aloor torkari or alur dom (a potato dish). In the winters, this gets taken to another level with koraishutir kochuri and alur dom. Fresh winter peas or koraishuti are used to make the fried discs of deliciousness. A little spicy, the kochuri is slightly crunchy on the outside and soft inside. The best ones are made in a Bengali home kitchen.

Our Recommendation

Byloom Canteen

Address: 58b, Hindustan Park Rd, Golpark, Hindustan Park, Gariahat, Kolkata, West Bengal 700029

Narkol Naru

Narkol naru are sticky coconut balls, traditionally made in winter with grated coconut and gur. They are served up to goddesses during festivals like Saraswati Puja. They are hard to find in shops and the best ones are made at home.

Pithe

Pithes are rice, flour, and sweet potato pancakes packed with kheer and grated coconut and sweetened with gur. There are various options, but try the Puli Pithe, a delicious dumpling filled with grated coconut, gur, and kheer.

Our Recommendation

Pick up from a traditional sweet shop like Banchharam's.

Address: 55/1, Rash Behari Ave, Manoharpukur, Kalighat, Kolkata, West Bengal 700026

Phulkopir Shingara

The north knows it as samosa, but in Bengal, the cone-shaped snacks are known as shingara. It is a popular evening snack, with tea. The shingara is stuffed with a spiced potato mix, but in winter, they are made with cauliflower and peas. They are available in sweet shops across the city. Some of them add cashews, raisins, and peanuts to the savoury snack.

Our Recommendations

1. Deshbandhu Mishtanna Bhandar

   Address: 123/1B, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Rd, Bag Bazar Colony, Manicktala, Azad Hind Bag, Machuabazar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700006

2. Balaram and Radharaman Mullick

   Address: 2, Paddapukur Rd, Jadubabur Bazar, Bhowanipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700020

3. Putiram Sweets

   Address: 46, Amherst St, Lalbajar, College Row, Machuabazar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700009