The Sunday Vegetable market at Yusufguda Hyderabad

Here in Hyderabad where I stay, there is a weekly vegetable market on Sunday. Farmers and retailers bring loads of fresh vegetables and fruits and sell it right here. I have been going to this market for years and really love the shopping experience. Some pics from this fantastic market !

Nanjangud Rasabaale – A unique variety of Banana from Nanjangud and unfortunately endangered

Apart from the famous Najundeshwara (Shiva) temple, the famous five Brindavanas of Swamiji’s of Sri Raghavendra Swami Mutt lineage and the river Kapila, Nanajangud, a small town about 21 kms from Mysore is rather famous for its unique variety of Banana called the “Nanajangud Rasabale”, “Rasabale” itself is a unique variety of Banana and is known for its sweetness and flavor. Unlike the Plantain types, which we get normally, Rasabale is sweeter and has a smoother texture. Nanjangud Rasabale is a variety of Rasabale that has a very unique taste and slightly grainy to smooth texture. This banana is grown only in the areas surrounding Nanjangud. These bananas are rarely available in the market but are picked up immediately once they arrive in the famous Devaraja Market at Mysore. It could be quite expensive and cost anywhere between 5-10 rupees each.

I heard from a local person that the area under cultivation for Nanjangud Rasabale has dwindled over the years due to the difficulty in nurturing and growing the Banana plants which is prone to diseases. Also, the farmer indicated that due to government apathy and lack of price support, incentives and crop protection, the chances of the famous Nanjangud Rasabale surviving the next few decades are rather slim.

For the love of Indian Mangoes !

I had gone y'day to a hypermarket and got all these mangoes - help!! the season is ending. My perennial favorites are of course Banganapalli, Raspuri & Malgova - you don't get Raspuri in Andhra, it's available abundantly in Mysore/Bangalore areas - It has a very rich flavor of it's own and has a reddish-orange pulp. I also like Chinna & Pedda Rasalu - excellent taste indeed.

I also got Himayat, which is a native cultivar of Hyderabad developed during the Nizam times. I read some history about it years ago, but unable to trace it back on the web. It has a rich flavor and looks like a cross between Alphonso and possibly Banganapalli (Benisha). It's freaking expensive these days ranging about 100/- a kilo (2 fruits at max) and available only at few places. Not a great fan of it though.

I don't like Mallika (above), but I got it for the heck of variety. I also don't like Langada and Dasheri - they all lose hands down to Banganapalli and Badami. I found that Malgova unlike what is available in Mysore/Bangalore is not as sweet, probably it has added chemicals to enhance the ripening.