Beside being popular as a tourist place 'Banaras' is also popular for the various kinds of cuisine it serves.so lets have a look over some of the cuisines for which Banaras has been popular and which makes it the Cuisine Capital of UP.
Malaiyo :
One of the very famous cuisine of Banaras,malaiyo is known for its sweetness.Malaiyo is a popular winter sweet dessert in Banaras.It's a milk dairy based dessert, almost like a pudding that's been fluffed with air.It's not something you would eat everyday, but I am sure you will loved it. One who visits Banaras should never forget to taste this dish.
Banarasi Paan:
The trade mark of Banaras,the Banarasi Paan has been world famous.Banarasi Paan revealed its identity internationally by one of the popular bollywood fick song "khaike paan banaras wala" in which Bollywood legend Amitabh Bacchan sung this song in very dramatic way and it is still popular as it was in producing decade.
In early Banarasi culture emperor of the Banaras welcomed their guest with tray of paan because they believed that this heart shaped leaf develop the relation with the heart so it referred as the symbol of friendship, celebration and romance. It also believed that chew paan were only allowed to the wrestlers and courtesans in king presence.
The pale dark green leaf smeared by the catechu and lime and then silver areca, tobacco (if preferred by individual), nuts, cardamom, camphor, mint, coconut, sweeteners added for the taste finally it is folded and pierced with cloves.
If you insist you paan can be spiked with the aphrodisiacs and intoxicants and envelop with silver and gold foil. You can find your choice of paan at every step of Varanasi and every paanvala will serve you best traditional Banarasi Paan in traditional way.
Local paan shop of Varanasi is the place where people gather in the morning and later in evening for their chat and hot gossips even they update their self with the regular happenings and match sore at their nearest paan shop. Its medicinal characteristics repeal the digestion and cough problems but regular habit of along with zarda may be hazardous.
Maghai is the expensive variety of the paan while some other valued are mitha, kapoori, bangle, mahoba and Banarasi.
The ingredients of paan hygienically placed either in freeze or paandans of engraved silver foil. Even Banarasi Paan considered as the part of occasional masti. Be it an Indian or a foreigner one never forget to have Banarasi Paan while visiting this city.
