Annapurna Cuisine

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Are you thinking of visiting Nepal? Is Annapurna trek on your bucket list? Are you curious about what food options you can have during your Annapurna trekking tour? Keep on reading this article to learn every detail about the cuisine options you get while trekking to the Annapurna region of Nepal.

The Annapurna region of Nepal is indeed the most iconic and popular trekking destination of Nepal after the Everest region. Annapurna, the world’s 10th highest mountain peak is like something the nature lover can call the heaven. Annapurna trekking tour offers you the chance to witness several amazing Himalayan villages, rhododendron forests, and captivating views of the towering peaks.  Apart from these amazing natural splendors, you can also experience fascinating cultures and delicious Himalayan dishes in the region.

The Annapurna region is famous for the simple and flavorful food the trekkers enjoy during their trekking tour. The food you eat during the Annapurna trekking is a distinctive blend of Nepalese, Indian, and Tibetan cuisines. It is highly impacted by the cultural legacy along with the availability of locally grown ingredients.

The weather in the Annapurna region along with the altitude has a high influence on the Annapurna cuisines. The high use of locally grown grains along with dairy products like yak butter, cheese, and meat is what gives the food a distinctive flavor.

Best Cuisines to You Should Try During Your Trek to Annapurna

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You can expect to have a variety of local to international cuisines ranging from traditional Nepali dishes to Tibetan and Indian options. Some of the must-eat food during your Annapurna trekking are:

Daal Bhaat: One of the best food options you can have during trekking to the Annapurna region is Dal Bhat. This food in the Annapurna region is not only tasty but provides you with enough energy you require for the trek. One of the most affordable and fulfilling meals, daal (lentil soup) bhaat (steamed rice) is served with freshly grown veggies, pickles, salads, and sometimes with a big portion of curd or meat. You get free refills in most of the tea houses and thus it’s a great way to save some bucks.

Momos: Another great option you can have for snacks are momos. These are one of the most loved dishes all over Nepal and are served with tasty dipping sauce. Prepared with a filling of vegetables, meat, or paneer, this dish is available in almost every teahouse in the Annapurna region.

Chapati: Also known as roti, chapati is prepared by making dough of wheat flour. It is then served hot with either vegetable curry, yogurt, or lentil soup. Just like dal bhaat, chapati is also a common dish eaten in Annapurna and other regions of Nepal and fills your tummy really well.

Sherpa stew: Famous among the Sherpa community, the Sherpa stew is one of the most delicious Annapurna dishes that go well with cold temperatures. The staple dish is prepared with varying ingredients mostly whatever is available at home. It is basically a soup prepared by adding yak meat, vegetables, potatoes, and more along with a variety of species.

Kur (Tibetian bread): Kur is a staple dish found almost in most teahouses during the Annapurna base camp trekking. Just like Sherpa stew it is also prepared at home with locally available ingredients. Tasting like doughnuts, this Sherpa dish is cheap and really filling for any time of the day.

Shyaphale: Another famous Sherpa dish available in teahouses of the Annapurna region is Shyaphale. The filling of shyaphale is prepared similarly to that of momo but is then deep-fried and served with an amazing sauce, tea, or chutney.

Sel Roti: Another authentic Nepali dish commonly found in most teahouses is sel roti. The circular sweet bread prepared with rice flour is best when eaten with vegetables, tea, or chutney. Being sweet in taste it can be eaten without any side dishes too.

Dhido: Dhido is one of the most traditional Nepali dishes famous in the mountainous region of Nepal including the Annapurna. The flour is mixed with water and cooked in a pan with continuous stirring necessary to avoid the formation of lumps. This dish is highly nutritious, rich in carbohydrates and fiber, and is best for colder regions. It is commonly served with hot vegetables or meat curry.

Khapse: Another food on our list of Annapurna cuisine is Khapase. It is a type of bread common among the Gurung and Thakali communities of the Annapurna region. Prepared from the dough of flour mixed up with some sugar, butter, and yeast, khapse is deep fried after making small twisted shapes.

Thakali Khana: Another tasty cuisine you can try in Annapurna is Thakali Khana. It is common to dal bhaat but is basically a platter of a variety of dishes served together. Thakali khana is best known for its unique taste and includes a serving of rice, lintels, chicken curry, and many other side dishes. 

Beverages and Desserts in Annapurna Trek

It’s always a great idea to eat something sweet to complement the great food after a long day of trekking. Just like the food, there are some beverages and desserts you should try while you are on a vacation to Nepal. The most common drink while on the Annapurna trekking is tea. Despite the tea, some common beverages and desserts available in the area are:

Chhang: One of the popular drinks in the Annapurna region is Chhang. It is prepared from fermented millet or rice and is a traditional drink best for colder regions like Annapurna. Chhang is somewhat sour and sweet and is never a bad idea if taken in limited amounts.

Butter Tea: Another special cuisine in the Annapurna region is Butter tea. A traditional drink prepared by boiling tea leaves with water mixed up with butter, salt, and milk. The rich creamy taste of butter tea works great providing warmth to the body.

Local fruit juices: During teahouses trekking in the Annapurna region, one common beverage commonly found is the juice of local fruits available in the region.  These are freshly squeezed and can be stored in bottles to drink during your trekking.

Other options like ginger tea, lemon tea, and herbal tea are quite common.

Additionally, if you feel like you are missing something sweet, there are a lot of options for desserts as well. With the development of transportation, carrying things that are available in Kathmandu and other cities of Nepal has become quite usual. However, if you wish to have something local to the area, you can look for:

Kheer: Rice pudding is a traditional dish prepared by boiling rice with milk and sugar. It is often garnished with nuts, cardamom, and saffron.

Dhau: It’s a creamy yogurt popular in the Annapurna region of Nepal. Most people love to have dessert to enhance the flavor and refresh themselves.

Dishes to Avoid During Annapurna Trek

Trekking to higher altitudes is already a risky adventure and eating something that might cause trouble to your body is dangerous. Thus, while walking into remote areas like Annapurna you should be careful of what you eat and drink during the day. It’s equally important to be more aware of your allergies and intolerances.

Although the Annapurna region’s cuisine is tempting and delicious, it’s necessary to be mindful of potential hazards connected with specific foods. We highly recommend you eat vegetarian food that not only provides you with enough energy but is good for high altitude sickness. Additionally avoiding foods that take longer time to digest, worsen the symptoms of altitude sickness, and make you physically drained out shouldn’t be taken.

You surely do not want to argue about an upset stomach while being on the lap of incredible mountain views. Although Annapurna is considered safe, there are a few foods that you should avoid during the trek:

Tap water: It’s considered pretty safe to carry a purification system with you. However, in any case you cannot, make sure to drink water that is boiled or filtered. You should not drink tap water along the way as it can contain bacteria. It is often thought to cause waterborne diseases like diarrhea and dysentery.

Spicy and oily food: Dishes found in the Annapurna region are delicious, tasty, and full of flavors. However, even though spicy food is good for your taste buds it’s difficult for the body to digest. Therefore, to enjoy your trekking trip to Annapurna, stick to healthy and light food.

Meat: Eating meat during Annapurna treks is not considered healthy as the meat might not be in good hygienic condition.

Raw foods and vegetables: Eating raw foods or vegetables that are not washed properly can cause distress. Thus, make sure you eat something that is cooked well or fruits that require peeling before eating just to be on the safer side.

Alcohol: Hydration is equally important for your body while trekking to higher altitudes. Our body loses energy in the form of sweat during the ascends and descends. Drinking alcohol during such a time is a very unhealthy choice. It enhances dehydration in the body making you feel weak.

Dairy products: Although the Annapurna region is famous for dairy products like yak cheese, milk, and butter, it is not considered pretty safe to eat them during trekking. In case you find properly pasteurized dairy products, you can eat in limited quantities.

Cost of Cuisines in the Annapurna Region

The cost of Annapurna cuisine is a bit higher than the Terai regions. It is due to the transportation charges added to it. Similarly, the cost also depends on several factors like what and how much you eat, the location of food, and the season of Annapurna trekking.

You are most likely to spend around 250 to 400 Npr on your breakfast. Similarly, for your lunch, Rs 500-700 per person per day is enough and similar amount for dinner as well.

A cup of tea in the Annapurna region will cost you around 100-200 NRs depending upon the altitude and the type of tea you want to drink.

FAQs of Annapurna Cuisine