Winter in the northern hemisphere usually occurs in December, January, and February. For countries in this hemisphere, January is the coldest month. On the other hand, the southern hemisphere experiences winter in June, July, and August, with July being the coldest month of the year.
Winters in India, located in the northern hemisphere, last from December through February. Even in India, though, the harshness of winter varies by area. For example, northern states such as Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and others experience harsh winters, while southern states and coastal areas like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and others do not.
The average winter temperature is 10 to 15 degrees Celsius in the northern states, with the coldest days reaching 5 or 6 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, the southern states have greater temperatures, with the lowest being 10 degrees Celsius.
Why are winters so cold in northern India?
This period is so cold in the north because of the “western disturbance.” These disturbances happen when a storm system is created by various factors such as mountains and the Himalayan glaciers, heat from the Indian subcontinent rises, and meets cold winds.
This causes the moisture in the clouds to condense, creating precipitation that falls as snow or rain. The western disturbance significantly impacts most of India, especially regions like Kashmir that often receives snowfall.
Although winter also coincides with the agricultural cycle in India, some regions warm up during this time of the year. For example, in Rajasthan, one can expect temperatures to rise as high as 40°C on some days (100°F).
Winters in India – Beginning of a New Festive & holiday season
This is a time for friends and family to get together, eat delicious food, and rejoice! Winter brings about an ambiance of peace and calms into the lives of many people living in India.
During the winter season in India, fog, snowfall, hail, and cold winds are common occurrences in northern states. When fog descends, it creates the illusion of clouds on the ground. Many tourists travel to higher elevations to enjoy the snow.
People enjoy various activities such as skiing, snow sculpting, snow fights, and so on. Aside from the beautiful snowy landscapes, the winter season in India is enjoyable due to the delicious, rich food that we will discuss later.
Winter Clothes:
In terms of clothing, most people prefer to wear jackets, coats, cardigans, mufflers, gloves, socks, and, on occasion, earmuffs during the winter. Layers of warm clothing protect us from the cold and wind.
Winter Festivals:
Many festivals are observed from December to February, including Christmas, Shivratri, Gurupurab, Lohri, Makar Sankranti, and Pongal. Each of these winter festivals has its unique charm, significance, and traditions.
There are different types of food items that we eat during winters to keep ourselves warm:
Roti or rice are eaten regularly, even during the cold season. But some foods are taken with extra care because of the fact that they provide warmth to our body, this is why during winters dishes like porridge are made which helps maintain a constant body temperature. Foods like aloo-gobi are also included in this list because cauliflower has a shallow water content necessary during the cold seasons.
Other food items eaten include leafy greens, cabbage, carrots, and warm soups, which help maintain body heat to prevent catching a cold or flu.
Let us discuss a few food items consumed more in the winter season.
Daal-chawal: During winters, we like to eat Daal (lentil) rice with some vegetables such as peas or other green vegetables such as methi, palak, etc. This is a simple everyday meal that keeps our bodies warm.
Poha: Pohe or Powa is a traditional breakfast dish of Maharashtra, which is the Konkan region of India famous for its varieties of food items. It is generally made with flattened rice (poha/aval) and can be eaten as a snack item and some tea.
Upma: It is a famous breakfast dish in the southern part of India, especially Andhra Pradesh which is made from simple ingredients such as rava, onions, tomatoes, etc. It is very healthy and nutritious to eat during the winter season as it keeps our body warm inside out. There are various recipes for making upma, such as tomato upma, onion upma, rava upma, etc.
Chole bature or chana masala: Chole batura or chole kulche is a popular dish usually eaten for breakfast in North India, especially Uttar Pradesh. It combines spicy chickpeas curry with fried bread called batura which also tastes very delicious. Various accompaniments can be added to the dish, such as sliced onions, chopped coriander leaves, curd, and lemon juice.
Soup: During winters, we eat soup with bread. It is pretty easy to make and tastes very delicious as well.
Samosa: Samosas are a deep-fried pastry filled with vegetables such as potatoes, peas, etc. These may be eaten alone or with tea/coffee or chai (tea). They taste more delicious during winters than at other times of year because of their crispy texture and tasty filling inside them, making a delicious snack item during cold weather.
Porridge: In the cold winter months, porridge is also a popular food that people enjoy eating to keep warm from the inside out. It is made with milk and wheat grains which are slowly cooked together until it becomes a thick paste-like consistency. Porridge can be eaten as an outside dish or with chutney, pickle, etc.
Dhokla: Dhokla is an Indian steamed savory cake made from gram flour/besan and rice batter. It is curdy in texture and has a sour taste because of the addition of fermented batter used to prepare dhokla. There are various types of dhoklas, such as teekha dhokla and khaman dhokla, which taste more delicious when eaten during the winter season.
Gulab jamun: Gulab Jamuns are dessert items made from milk curd dough and deep-fried in oil until it becomes brown. It is then soaked in sugar syrup to remove excess fat from it, and this gives a delicious sweet taste to the dish. It can be served hot or cold but mostly eaten during the winter months because of its tasty, crispy texture.
Dal Pakwan: Dal pakwan is a very popular food item available at every restaurant during the winter months. It consists of crispy puris or bhaturas that are made out of whole wheat flour, topped off with yellow moong lentils, white chana dal, black pepper powder, and sprinkled with chaat masala. Dals add a delicious taste to this dish which can be eaten on its own or with an accompaniment such as yogurt etc.
Some of the food items served at RR Café: Best for the winter season
In many parts of India, winters are considered a time when one has to take extra care of their health. It is the time when there are fewer hours of sunlight & it becomes very uncomfortable to be out in the sun during winters.
For people living in cold areas, it becomes nigh impossible to go outside for more than 10 minutes at a stretch during the daytime, so they always prefer to eat comfort food. This is why sandwiches & pasta are considered comfort foods by many of them.
They also have a craving for hot noodles in winters which they usually have in a bowl containing chicken broth topped with boiled chicken pieces, spring onion & white pepper powder.
Sandwiches & Pasta:
During the winter season in India, many people like to eat sandwiches & pasta. Both these food items are considered comfort food, especially for those who live in cold areas. Sandwiches can be made with vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes & beetroots. They also come in varieties like cheese sandwiches (made of bread slice, cheese & vegetables), jam sandwiches (made of bread slice with a thin layer of fruit preserve, usually strawberry or raspberry).
In addition to this, pasta is also considered comfort food by many people in India. A typical winter dish from North India, “Paneer Lababdar,” has been given its own place on menus across the country. In the popular menu of this dish, there comes a side serving of pasta. This pasta can be made from any shape & size, but garlic breadsticks are the most common variety served with this dish.
Noodles:
People in India also eat hot noodles in winters which they usually have in a bowl containing chicken broth topped with boiled chicken pieces, spring onion & white pepper powder.
Pancakes:
In winter, many people also have a craving for pancakes or crepes. Pancakes can be served with a variety of toppings depending on the person’s taste. They can have a topping of fruits like oranges, bananas & strawberries or a topping of cereal flakes like cornflakes & honey or a topping of chocolates like Nutella & white chocolate.
Hot Soups:
In order to keep our body warm during this time, soups are great as they have the power to maintain the heat in your body.
In the winter season, people prefer hot soups as they provide warmth during this cold season, help you stay healthy, and make you feel lighter for a longer time.
Conclusion:
As the Indian winter months approach, it’s time to think about what you will be eating this season. If you are looking for a break from traditional Indian cuisine like rice and curry, there is no shortage of options!
This article has highlighted some interesting food items that can help keep your taste buds happy even when the weather outside is frightful. From pasta dishes to sandwiches and pancakes, these foods offer variety in flavour as well as provide an opportunity to try new things without breaking out of your comfort zone too much.
Have you tried any of these? We would love to hear from you.
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about the winter season in India and all of its delicious food. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy these foods, be sure to visit RR Café this coming winter season!
This is the perfect time for you to have a hearty meal without worrying about heat or air conditioning; enjoy!