Wednesday 11 March 2009

Raw in Goa: shopping around

This is my 5th visit to India in seven years and every time I return I witness the accelerating pace of change in all areas of life. I haven't been to Goa since 2005 when already there was a higher degree of availability of 'foreign' foods than elsewhere on the continent. Goan culture represents an easy fusion of east and west, it was colonised by the Portugese and then the hippies moved in. Today there is an intake of well heeled domestic and international visitors who according to their intention have different food requirements and the Goans yield happily to serve us. The Germans brought their heavy, nutritious breads and baked goods, the Israeli's falafel and hummus and the newest international tribe, the Russians, vodka bars.
Yogis and raw fooders have always been well served by the natural abundance of the place, and there is much to be said for the simplicity of tropical fruit and coconuts.
However, there is so much more to be had in this luscious tropical haven. There is a particularly well stocked emporium here, in Anjuna, Orchard Store has an extensive fresh produce section. I have seen cherry tomatoes, organic grapes, sweet corn, fresh figs and salad leaves.
I was quite surprised to find bee pollen, himalayan sea salt and a good selection of cold pressed oils, imported items from Italy in this case. A recent addition to the dried fruit section are pumplin and sunflower seeds, available at a premium in small amounts.
I have yet to see a goji berry and the ubiquitous raw chocolate/cacao is nowhere to be seen. Surely a gap in the market for a budding Rawntrepreneur...

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