Taste History: Early Mughal Cuisine Revealed

A distinctive 'Forgotten Feasts' walk held at the Humayun's Tomb World Heritage Site Museum provided an immersive culinary exploration of the early Mughal period. Storyteller Parvati Sharma captivated participants with tales of Mughal dining habits, tracing culinary evolution from Emperor Babur's preferences to Emperor Akbar's embrace of vegetarianism.

The dining experience, set in a serene atmosphere at Sunder Nursery with traditional rabab music, was meticulously curated by Soity Banerjee. Local homechefs from Zaika-e-Nizamuddin prepared a menu inspired by historical texts, offering authentic tastes of the 16th century. This initiative aimed to satisfy curiosity about the diet of the early Mughals.

Attendees savored dishes prepared without contemporary ingredients like chilies, tomatoes, and potatoes, reflecting Akbar's era when vegetarian alternatives to meat dishes became prominent. The meal featured items such as dal-e-mirch and khush rang raita, showcasing a rich culinary heritage preserved and presented to a modern audience.