TANTALIZING TROPICAL TREATS
Blessed with a balmy sea breeze and spectacular lush greenery, the Goan way of life is also scented with the divine aroma of their divergent local cuisine. In character with the Konkan proverb, ‘prod -ham bhookt, magi mookt’, Goans believe that a satisfying meal is a prerequisite to exercising their ability to think. Here, one must also mention that their flair for food sprouts from the availability of a wide variety of local ingredients. A fabulous tropical climate moderated by the Arabian Sea and very fertile alluvial soils make this state home to a diversity of fresh produce. While there is 50,000 hectares of cashew plantations, different types of underground vegetables, spinach, bamboo shoot, raw mango and drumsticks are also grown in abundance. For commercial purposes, spices, fruit, cashew and areca nut plantations dominate much of the farmlands. However, there are also pockets where you will find prosperous mango groves and terraces dotted with coconut, jackfruit and pine...