Kathmandu:

Tasting different kinds of food is an interesting part of travel. Through our sense of taste we get to know the life of local people, and keep the memories alive. When we remember the taste someday in the future, it will bring a special close feeling with the place... as familiar as an old friend.

I was born in one of the places that is famous for its cuisine - Taiwan, which has different varieties of Chinese food (snacks) and international cuisine. And as a traveller I have stayed in Nepal for around 520 days. So, I would like t share with you some snacks that you must try in Nepal besides the typical Nepali meal of dal-bhat. This I’m sure will make your journey more complete.

Must-try 1: Momo

If you miss tasting momo, then it will be like you never visited Nepal.

The momo is shaped like the Chinese dumplings with fillings choices ranging from vegetable, buff, chicken or mutton. Most restaurants or vendors sell steamed momos, while some also served fried or with soup. If you don’t like spicy momos, remember to say so when you order.

I have tried different momo shops and stalls, but have still not found one to recommend. It will be an interesting journey to search for a plate yummy momos.

Must-try 2: Sel

Selroti — it looks like a slim donut and is found readily. However, not all shops sell a tasty sel. This depends on the proportions of the ingredients used and how long you fry the sel. But it is delicious when it is hot and freshly fried, not cold.

The sel in Pokhara is a bit bigger and harder than those sold in Kathmandu. However, my vote goes to the Kathmandu sels.

So,the next time you walk down the street, order a cup of milk tea and try a sel and enjoy a Nepali-style teatime.

Must-try 3: Samosa

It’s an Indian snack that is very popular here. The close relationships between India and Nepal is also reflected in food as well. Samosa is mashed potato wrapped in pastry and fried till golden brown and served with a sweet-and-sour sauce.

The Tip Top Samosa Pasal (Misthan Bhandar) hidden in a small lane at New Road is very famous. Why is Tip Top samosa so popular? From my tasting, I realised it is the difference in the crust and the sweet source, and also the always-hot service that make the samosas here a lot tastier. The Tip Top shop is not easy to find. It will be easier if you ask the shopkeepers in New Road to show you the way.

Must-try 4: Jeri

This are sugarcoated fried twists. The twists are first fried and soaked in sugar syrup. When you eat it, the syrup floods your mouth with sweetness. Have it with black tea.

Must-try 5: Sweet lassi

The sweet lassi is blended curd and sugar, but the lassis served at a shop near Indra Chowk has a distinctive taste.

The sweet lassi here is rich and creamy, and the sweetness is just perfect. They add some pieces of nuts on the top which highlight the taste.

Must-try 6: Soda

Nepali people have a different way of enjoying their soda and your palate

will remember this taste forever.

This bubble drink can be created in more than 20 varieties such as sweet lime, masala, apple beer, and strawberry…

The place for the best soda in town is located on the small lane near New Road. I specially like the sweet lime soda here. Since I tasted the soda here, I have found that the restaurants do not sell ‘real’ sodas. We can get the best sodas on the street corners.

Must-try 7: Khua

This is an traditional handmade milky food. The flavour is a bit sweet and tastes a bit like rough butter. The khua at Dakshinkali is very famous.

Must-try 8: Pani puri

This is a kind of small round hollow cracker. Usually it is served by the plate (6 pieces in one plate, costs around Rs 10). The vendor cracks a small hole on the puri, puts in some mashed potatoes mixed with spices and dips into this ‘pani’ that is sour and sweet. It is a tasty light food that should refresh you on

a hot day.

Must-try 9: Gudpak

This is a delicious Nepali dessert made from sugar and milk. It is really very tasty freshly-made — hot and soft.

It is sold by grams (Rs 45 for 200gm).

The gudpak shop right at the entrance to New Road is the place to go for some. You better to go there before evening, otherwise it is easy sold out.

Must-try 10: Pustakari

It is a kind of hard cookie, but when you keep it in the mouth for a while, it starts getting soft, and all the flavours flood your mouth as you start chewing slowly. You can get pustakari at the gudpak shop mentioned above.

Must-try 11: Sekuwa

It is a kind of Nepali barbecue, which has mutton/buff/chicken cubes on a skewer with masala (spices).

Locals usually have sekuwa with chiwra (beaten rice), pickles and some fresh cucumbers or carrots. The typical sekuwa is grilled till it is hard. I found it was difficult to chew, but it was good to know how different the taste is.

Must-try 12: Indian sweets

There are many Indian sweets shops in Nepal. If you would like to try some but have no idea where to start, then maybe you can begin with laddu, teelko laddu, rasbhari, lalmohan or rasmalai. These are popular. You can also go for gazar ka haluwa, kesarbatti, chhena balusahi or Makhan bada...

(Wei is a lifestyle journalist from Taipei, Taiwan, who has fallen in love with Nepal)