Food and Drinks

The staple food of the people in the valley is Bhatta which is prepared by boiling the rice, extracting or absorbing the water and then baking it properly. Bhatta is taken at both lunch and dinner with curry locally known as seun, made from vegetables, pulses or meat. The vegetables include Hak or Greens, Palak or Spinach, Mujh or Radish, Gazer or carrot,Gogji or Turnip, Allu or Potato, Nadru or Lotus Roots etc. In summer the vegetables like Tomatto, Brinjal,Pumpkin, and Turnip are dried, with a view to consume these dry vegetables during winter seasons when the valley remains clad with the snow, and there is scarcity of fresh vegetables.Pulses are consumed in large quantity during winter months.

Gone are the days, when meat was considered as a luxury.Now-a days both the Muslims  and the Hindus consume mutton, fish and fowls.But the Hindus do not take meat, garlic and onion on some ausoicious occasions. The excellent cuisine of the valley has special variation from food of the country, although it is north Inidan type.the famous Kashmiri Wazwan consists of a variety of dishes locally known as , Meth, Kabab, Tabakmaz, Deani, Resta, Roghan-Josh, Mercha-wangan Kurma, Aab-Gosh and Gushtaba alongwith soar sauces. Now-a-days milk, curd and green vegetables, as wel as, fresh fruits are consumed in large quantity.Generally, the diet is balanced and due attention is given towards the food value by the educatedclass in the valley.

The tea is a popular drink and has become a necessity of life in the valley. There are two types of tea, prepared from tea leaves imported from the neighbouring States of the country. When salt and milk is added with the tea essence, it is known as Noon-Chai or salt-tea. On some occasions butter and kernels of  dry fruits are also added. The other type is known as Kahwa or Sugar-tea. Milk and butter is not poured into it, but saffron, flovoured cardomem and ginger is added as per taste, beside almond kernel.

Soft drinks and juice is in demand during summer months. The majority of the people do not indulge in wine, but the people living in cities and at health resorts have began to drink wine,though there number is insignificant.

The people in rural Kashmir were fond of snuff and tobacco, but now they have given up the use of snuff. The smoking of tobacco or cigarette, is however, still prevalent.