The Indian Local Food I Like the Least: Assam, India

The Indian Local Food I Like the Least: Assam, India

When talking about India, many people probably think of bold flavors, a variety of spices, and enticing aromas that drift from afar. But for me, Mr.Hotsia, traveling to the state of Assam was a challenging experience in terms of food preferences. Assam is a northeastern state of India, full of natural mountains, rivers, and indigenous cultures clearly different from other places. However, when it comes to the local food here, I have to admit that some flavors and aromas made me feel less fond of it.

Most Assam food focuses on local ingredients such as sticky rice, fish, freshwater fish, and native herbs. The flavors tend to be quite simple, not emphasizing strong spices like in cities such as Bengaluru or Mumbai, or other major cities in southern India that I have experienced before. However, what made me uncomfortable were the smells and tastes of food that sometimes involved fermentation or used herbs that were too unfamiliar for someone who likes bold and spicy food like me.

Examples of food I encountered includeKharor dishes cooked with charcoal ash from vegetables and meat, which might taste unusual and have a distinctive smell. There are also fermented foods such astengawhich is a sour curry made from Indian gooseberry or wild lime. Its sour aroma and taste took me quite some time to adjust to.

I once tried local food at Buddha Park in Namchi, Sikkim, which is not far from Assam (read more aboutTraveling in Namchi). Although there was a momo shop there that I really liked, once I crossed into Assam, the food flavors changed so much that I felt, “Is this really the India I know?”

The Difference of Food in India: From Bengaluru to Assam

From my experience traveling to Bengaluru, Karnataka, a developed city with bold and diverse South Indian cuisine, I felt the food there suited me better because it included fragrant biryani with clear spices and spicy fried chicken (if you want to know more about Bengaluru and its delicious food, try readingBackpacking Bengaluru)

). Compared to Assam, the food there seemed not designed to please tourists used to strong flavors but reflected the natural lifestyle of locals living among forests and large rivers such as the Brahmaputra River flowing through Assam.

Why Don’t I Like Assam Food?

The simplest answer is the “smell” and “taste” that are unfamiliar, especially for those accustomed to typical Indian food like rich curry or dishes using a variety of spices. Assam food often has simple flavors and sometimes uses fermentation methods that create distinctive smells, such as fermented freshwater fish or herbs unfamiliar to most people.

Also, the main ingredients here are usually sticky rice and local vegetables with flavors different from jasmine or white rice that most people prefer. So when I first tried it, I felt it was “strange” and didn’t match the taste I expected.

However, although Assam food is not my favorite flavor, Mr.Hotsia still appreciates the local cuisine that reflects the villagers’ way of life, the perfect use of local ingredients, and the warm simplicity in its own way.

How Should You Prepare to Try Assam Food?

If you are a foodie traveler who likes to try new dishes, I recommend preparing your mind to accept different tastes and smells. Also, don’t forget to observe the cooking methods and ingredients used because that is the charm of true travel. Experiencing culture through food is more fun and challenging than just eating.

Traveling to Assam should be done with an open mind, and don’t expect the food to be like what you have eaten in big cities like Mumbai or Bengaluru because the food here tells the story of the villagers and the nature surrounding them.

Closing Remarks from Mr.Hotsia

I, Mr.Hotsia, have traveled to many cities in India, including Mumbai, full of cultural diversity and delicious dishes, or Chennai with its history and South Indian flavors (read the storyBackpacking Chennai, India (Chennai)here). But Assam was a lesson that taught me that sometimes travel is not always about comfort or what we like but about opening our hearts to accept and learn differences.

If you want to follow more of my travel and food stories, including experiences eating biryani in Bengaluru or traveling to Darjeeling to see the lifestyle and culture of northern India, you can check the links to various stories I have written, such asJourney to DarjeelingorBackpacking BengaluruThank you.

Finally, although Assam food is not my favorite, experiencing its flavors and different way of life made me, Mr.Hotsia, feel that India is still full of new perspectives waiting for us to discover and learn.