BHOPAL: IS THERE A BIT OF OPIUM IN THAT TEA?

The food walk organised by IG Bhopal Photography combines food, culture, history — and photography. “The city has a wonderful mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, because of the heavy influence of Marwaris and Jains,” says Mudra Keswani, a food blogger under the name of The Super Chatori, who usually conducts this walk. In old Bhopal, the walk starts at the Taj-ulMasjid, the country’s largest mosque. At Mamaji Jalebi Wala, walkers try the uniquely Bhopali breakfast of jalebi-poha, eaten together for a delicious sweet-salty mix. They then head to Chowk Bazar for chaat. “One dish we tell our non-vegetarian guests to not miss is the Bhopali chicken rezala, made with coriander and a lot of fried onion and garlic. The recipe came from the Begums’ kitchens and is unique to this city.”

The walk would be incomplete without Sulemani tea from Raju Tea Stall. “The tea is thick, a little bit salty and there’s a rumour that it is so addictive because it has a little bit of opium in it!”

“Sprinkled in between are hidden gems like Sonu Monu Ke Namkeen, which serves authentic mawa baati,” says Sachin Joshi, founder of the group.