India is a land of spices and it is not a country that is just diverse in its religion or languages, but also its rich culinary heritage. From the best saffron in Kashmir to the flavourful black cardamoms in Sikkim, different states of India offer a rich variety of flavour. Edibles make for some of the best souvenirs to take back home as they capture the essence of the country's culinary culture.

Here is a list of food items that you can buy in India as a souvenir and is also considered a care package for travel!

Pickles


Pickles are an integral part of the Indian kitchen and it is the go to option for all your meals. A meal is not complete without pickles. Pickles are made from dried vegetables - mostly mango, lime, garlic in a mixture with oil, salt, mustard and chillies. The taste of pickles is a mix of sourness and spice which creates a different taste when consumed and they are often stored in big glass jars.

Appalam or Papad



Appalam or Papad are the localised versions of chips. Mostly made from black gram base, papads and appalams are used as accompaniments in a meal. They are either fried or baked with cooking oil and they stay crispier only for a certain amount of time and it is also used as a snack.

Murukku


Murukku is the traditional snack of south India and it is often prepared during the festive season. Murukku is of various types and it is a perfect tea time snack. Murukku has a very long shelf life and it is consumed in between meals as fillers and it has a crunchy texture that often adds to the excitement while consumed.


Pori


Pori is referred to as puffed rice. The snack that is healthy and has very less calories. It is light, airy and crispy. Pori does not have a specific taste of its own, but makes a great difference when added to other snacks like Bhel puri or pori kadalai which are evening snacks especially made during the rainy season.

Nendram Pazham


A staple food from Kerala, Nendram pazham is fruit that is nutrient rich. Hailing from the same family as banana, nendram is often fried as fritters, used to make multiple lentil soups and it is best used as baby food. Nendram Pazham is also used to make chips.

Teplas


Teplas are traditional Gujarati flatbreads made from whole wheat and gram flour. Teplas are the go to option of food when it comes to travelling. They are flavourful and because of the spices added in it, Teplas have a very long shelf life.

Khakra


Similar to Teplas, Khakras are flat breads that are crispy. Khakra is an authentic Indian munchies, more or less like Nachos, but has an Indian masala flavour attached to it. It is best when combined with yogurt, or as a salad with tomatoes and onions.

Avalakki


Avalakki or commonly known as upma is a staple breakfast in many households. Made using poha, it is a dry mix that can be mixed with hot water and cooked for a few minutes to make a perfect healthy and tasty breakfast. It is a combination of roasted flattened rice, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and red rice.