Packing food

notyouraveragedame · Dec 15th, 2003, 05:10

Hi all,

I did a search and couldn't find anything on this topic, probably because I'm the only dope actually thinking about bringing food with me to India. Here's the deal: While I'm willing to try new things, I don't like spicy foods and am afraid that much Indian cuisine will not sit well with me. I tend to lose weight very easily (I lost about 15 lbs. when in France for 2 weeks) and would like to bring some "staples" with me in case there are days when I just can't find much to eat. I'm thinking of bringing some crackers, trail mix, and some dried fruit (since I've been warned a zillion times not to eat any fresh fruit or veggies). Are there any customs regulations that prevent me from bringing food into India? In my previous travels to Europe, the only restrictions were on plants and perishable food items; I haven't been able to find any info. on Indian regulations.

Thanks! 18 days till departure!
Jenny

Shannon · Dec 15th, 2003, 05:48

I was there for 9 months and brought loads of candy I couldnt find in india (twizzlers and starburst). I had no customs problem.

However, I think you can find a lot of the things you listed in India for much cheaper, and save the packing space. They have loads of non-spicy biscuits (crackers) that are bland, sweet, or salty. I found excellent ingredients for trail mix - raisins, dried papaya and mango, and nuts including cashews and pistachios.

If you want to bring your own dried fruit, that makes sense, but I really wouldn't suggest bringing crackers. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with how easy they are to find, how varied, and how cheap.

You can also ask for food without spice - saying mirch nahi worked well for me when I wasn't feeling up to spice.

notyouraveragedame · Dec 15th, 2003, 05:56

Shannon, my mid-western neighbor, thanks so much for the tip! Now that you mention it, I might have to add candy to my list!

Thanks!
Jenny

Darmabum · Dec 15th, 2003, 09:33

Jenny - finding food in India is no problem. As Shannon said, leave your crackers at home, lots to choose from in India. They also make some candy, actually some fairly good chocolate candy and finding Cadbury chocolate bars isn't too hard in the larger cities. And again, in larger cities, finding non-spicy foods (do you mean spicy/hot or just spicy? as in savory) isn't hard. India's been occupied by Westerners for hundreds of years . . . if you're going to Varanasi I can give you the name of a place by the river where you can get wood fired pizza and the best spinach and cheese ravioli I've ever had (in India). Have fun! Peace. Scott

vistet · Dec 15th, 2003, 09:55

Best pizza ever I found in the small cafe adjoining Namgyal Monastery in McLeod (Dharamsala) . Weird.
From the flag I`ve guessed that you will spend some time close to the Tibetan community ; their food hardly runs on the spicy side. Try the momos (avoid the paintstripper curry, if served)

Kiki · Dec 15th, 2003, 10:12

Hey Golden Door,
or is it Money Door?
Any restaurant tips for Darjeeling?

vistet · Dec 15th, 2003, 11:10

Quote:

Originally posted by Kiki
Golden Door,
or is it Money Door?

??
Sorry did`nt get that.

The momos were found at the Hot Stimulating Cafe ; smallish place with a balcony , downhill from Observatory Hill. Lots of other nice places I don`t remember the names of.

vistet · Dec 15th, 2003, 11:18

Now I get it : the name-logo . Mgo-ser : "yellow-head" : foreigner.

mountaingirl · Dec 15th, 2003, 11:58

If you are landing in Delhi, there are a lot of new supermarkets mushroming in Delhi (especially in one of the satellite townships called Gurgaon) - you can find most of the stuff there. The taste is definitely getting more global. So when you make a list of things - get only those that you think are MUST!
I have had people who were allergic to fat...they lived on Tsampa and boiled veggies - they had the best meal!

mountaingirl · Dec 15th, 2003, 11:59

forgot to add - imported food will cost a more a bit more than the local stuff but it saves you the hassle of bringing in a lot of stuff.

vistet · Dec 15th, 2003, 13:17

Quote:

Originally posted by mountaingirl
Tsampa

mmm... tsampa...

mountaingirl · Dec 15th, 2003, 16:12

Vistet: we should start trading - I can send you Tsampa and you can send some instant bearnaise!

steve_richmond · Dec 15th, 2003, 17:15

Indian food is fantastic... but Tsampa? It's got to be the hardest substance in the world to digest. I remember being in an unfortunate situation where a Tibetan monk in McLeod Ganj was convinced I loved the tsampa he was preparing. He insisted that I should try more, and I was too polite to refuse. The rest of the evening was spent volunteering the contents of my stomach to the nearest WC.

indiamike · Dec 15th, 2003, 17:22

Hi Jenny,
I don't think there are any rules on the food you can bring in, heck I brought in some "slim jims" just for the shock value.

Crackers and cookies are everywhere and with fresh fruits, what the old saying "if you can't peel it...."...something something.

Again there are so many places catering to foreigners that you can get by without ever touching a plate of Indian food.

However with the fruits and veggies, don't let the fear put you off. The difference between fruit and veggies that you pick up in your supermarket here in the west and what you get in India is night and day and imho are worth the risk. But that's just my opinion.

I wouldn't pass the opportunity to have fresh mangoes or coconuts picked right off the tree.

Even in the middle of nowhere you still will find Potato Chips and biscuits easily available.

Mike

adrian smith · Dec 15th, 2003, 19:01

My commiserations notyouraveragedame.

I can't wait to get to India and all the spicy food.

Dec 15th, 2003, 05:10	#1
notyouraveragedame Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Appleton, WI Posts: 40	Packing food Hi all, I did a search and couldn't find anything on this topic, probably because I'm the only dope actually thinking about bringing food with me to India. Here's the deal: While I'm willing to try new things, I don't like spicy foods and am afraid that much Indian cuisine will not sit well with me. I tend to lose weight very easily (I lost about 15 lbs. when in France for 2 weeks) and would like to bring some "staples" with me in case there are days when I just can't find much to eat. I'm thinking of bringing some crackers, trail mix, and some dried fruit (since I've been warned a zillion times not to eat any fresh fruit or veggies). Are there any customs regulations that prevent me from bringing food into India? In my previous travels to Europe, the only restrictions were on plants and perishable food items; I haven't been able to find any info. on Indian regulations. Thanks! 18 days till departure! Jenny

Dec 15th, 2003, 09:33	#4
Darmabum On the Road, wherever I am Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho . . . now the red-rock plateau of southern Utah Posts: 881	Jenny - finding food in India is no problem. As Shannon said, leave your crackers at home, lots to choose from in India. They also make some candy, actually some fairly good chocolate candy and finding Cadbury chocolate bars isn't too hard in the larger cities. And again, in larger cities, finding non-spicy foods (do you mean spicy/hot or just spicy? as in savory) isn't hard. India's been occupied by Westerners for hundreds of years . . . if you're going to Varanasi I can give you the name of a place by the river where you can get wood fired pizza and the best spinach and cheese ravioli I've ever had (in India). Have fun! Peace. Scott __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure - Marianne Williamson

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Packing dilemmas...	amy	Packing Tips for India travel	11	Oct 16th, 2005 18:46
Packing too heavy?	kira	Packing Tips for India travel	10	May 8th, 2005 14:53
Home food vs Restaurant food. why???	zenkris	Indian Cooking and Cuisine	2	May 7th, 2005 23:53
Packing help needed	Kali_in_Seattle	Packing Tips for India travel	32	May 3rd, 2005 12:20
packing	salima	Packing Tips for India travel	9	Aug 30th, 2003 10:06

Dec 15th, 2003, 05:48	#2
Shannon bunder Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Minneapolis, MN, US Posts: 152	I was there for 9 months and brought loads of candy I couldnt find in india (twizzlers and starburst). I had no customs problem. However, I think you can find a lot of the things you listed in India for much cheaper, and save the packing space. They have loads of non-spicy biscuits (crackers) that are bland, sweet, or salty. I found excellent ingredients for trail mix - raisins, dried papaya and mango, and nuts including cashews and pistachios. If you want to bring your own dried fruit, that makes sense, but I really wouldn't suggest bringing crackers. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with how easy they are to find, how varied, and how cheap. You can also ask for food without spice - saying mirch nahi worked well for me when I wasn't feeling up to spice.

Dec 15th, 2003, 05:56	#3
notyouraveragedame Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Appleton, WI Posts: 40	Shannon, my mid-western neighbor, thanks so much for the tip! Now that you mention it, I might have to add candy to my list! Thanks! Jenny

Dec 15th, 2003, 09:55	#5
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,819	Best pizza ever I found in the small cafe adjoining Namgyal Monastery in McLeod (Dharamsala) . Weird. From the flag I`ve guessed that you will spend some time close to the Tibetan community ; their food hardly runs on the spicy side. Try the momos (avoid the paintstripper curry, if served)

Dec 15th, 2003, 10:12	#6
Kiki Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 154	Hey Golden Door, or is it Money Door? Any restaurant tips for Darjeeling?

Dec 15th, 2003, 11:18	#8
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,819	Now I get it : the name-logo . Mgo-ser : "yellow-head" : foreigner.

Dec 15th, 2003, 11:58	#9
mountaingirl Mother Goose Join Date: May 2003 Location: underground Posts: 426	If you are landing in Delhi, there are a lot of new supermarkets mushroming in Delhi (especially in one of the satellite townships called Gurgaon) - you can find most of the stuff there. The taste is definitely getting more global. So when you make a list of things - get only those that you think are MUST! I have had people who were allergic to fat...they lived on Tsampa and boiled veggies - they had the best meal!

Dec 15th, 2003, 11:59	#10
mountaingirl Mother Goose Join Date: May 2003 Location: underground Posts: 426	forgot to add - imported food will cost a more a bit more than the local stuff but it saves you the hassle of bringing in a lot of stuff.

Dec 15th, 2003, 16:12	#12
mountaingirl Mother Goose Join Date: May 2003 Location: underground Posts: 426	Vistet: we should start trading - I can send you Tsampa and you can send some instant bearnaise!

Dec 15th, 2003, 17:15	#13
steve_richmond Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: London, N1. UK. Posts: 17	Indian food is fantastic... but Tsampa? It's got to be the hardest substance in the world to digest. I remember being in an unfortunate situation where a Tibetan monk in McLeod Ganj was convinced I loved the tsampa he was preparing. He insisted that I should try more, and I was too polite to refuse. The rest of the evening was spent volunteering the contents of my stomach to the nearest WC.

Dec 15th, 2003, 17:22	#14
indiamike Retired Admin Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: New Joisey for now Posts: 1,759	Hi Jenny, I don't think there are any rules on the food you can bring in, heck I brought in some "slim jims" just for the shock value. Crackers and cookies are everywhere and with fresh fruits, what the old saying "if you can't peel it...."...something something. Again there are so many places catering to foreigners that you can get by without ever touching a plate of Indian food. However with the fruits and veggies, don't let the fear put you off. The difference between fruit and veggies that you pick up in your supermarket here in the west and what you get in India is night and day and imho are worth the risk. But that's just my opinion. I wouldn't pass the opportunity to have fresh mangoes or coconuts picked right off the tree. Even in the middle of nowhere you still will find Potato Chips and biscuits easily available. Mike

User Name		Remember Me?
Password

Dec 15th, 2003, 19:01	#15
adrian smith Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: UK Posts: 20	My commiserations notyouraveragedame. I can't wait to get to India and all the spicy food.