Flavors and Feelings

I caught a cold last week. 

I know, not the coolest first line to start with. But that's the truth, I caught a cold. Cold, followed by headache, viral fever, nerve-wracking pain, a running nose that later turned into a blocked one, a terrible cough, and of course, darker dark circles. My voice has completely shattered into pieces, and I’ve been calculating the number of words before I speak. I’ve been talking in short, broken sentences. Now you might know the extent of my throat infection. And the worst part? The cough that starts the very moment I lay my head on the pillow. The Universe truly knows to ruin my routine just when I start doing well; exercising regularly, keeping up my intermittent fasting, sleeping decently. And right then, the Universe decides to gift me a virus!!!!!

Current Life Update:

The picture says it all. (I'm still breathing through my mouth, by the way. Sleep has long eluded me.) 

Never mind, do you know what’s still keeping me sane? The flavors I love.
Not exactly food, but FLAVORS.

If you don’t know me already, I’m a foodie. But I prolly need to define the category I belong to. I’m not the food-vlogger type, nor the street-food enthusiast, nor the hobbyist eater. I’m the kind of foodie who enjoys ingredients more than the dish itself. I love eating fresh and healthy, both in calories and colors. Food colors matter to me too; I adore greens and bright lime shades on my plate.

This past week, along with my medicines, I’ve been having pepper, honey, and clove — either directly or through Ayurvedic concoctions. I love Ayurvedic syrups so much! (I know that sounds silly, but I can’t help it.) There are days I crave those herbal syrups, the taste is simply magical. I have no idea what blend of herbs they use, but it tastes heavenly.

My love for black pepper is eternal. I love it in every form: juvenile green pepper, white pepper, or mature black pepper! The aroma, the pungency, the warmth all of it feels so perfect. Tender pepper can fix my mood swings too, haha! Crushed tender pepper mixed with tamarind powder and salt? One in a million flavor!!!

My favorite flavors list doesn’t end there. Ripened mango, orange, ponderosa lemon, honey, and fennel, each of them holds a little story of comfort. They’re all so refreshing, capable of waking up every sleepy cell in your body and every lazy thought in your mind. Mangoes remind me of sticky fingers and carefree summers; oranges of cold mornings and sunlit warmth in each peel; lemons of sharp, zesty laughter that instantly lifts the mood; honey of calm, golden afternoons; and fennel of that soft, lingering sweetness after every good meal. These flavors feel so alive. 

I can have honey with literally everything — fruits, bread, cereal mix, dosa, milk, papad, herbal teas, even plain water. There’s something about that soft sweetness that feels like kindness in liquid form. Honestly, I’d rather name the seasons after my favorite flavors: Mango, Pepper, and Orange instead of Summer, Rainy, and Winter. According to me, pepper is God’s finest creation: bold, grounding, and full of personality. And all the rest come pretty close, each adding its own color, warmth, and rhythm to life.

And you know what? Somewhere I read that human taste buds change every seven years. I was surprised when I found out, but now it makes perfect sense. As a kid, I was such a picky eater. If someone had asked me what I ate, I’d have had only a few to name. I hated curd, ghee, jackfruit, mustard, and asafoetida. Not just disliked, hated. I remember covering my nose if someone near me ate curd or ghee. And mustard seeds? A whole different story. I used to pick out every tiny seed from my rice or dal and keep it aside on the plate. (Yes, I was that child) Jackfruit and asafoetida shared the same fate.

But now? I eat them all. And even when I’m cooking, I feel incomplete if I run out of mustard or asafoetida. I can’t believe I once detested them! Strange, but true.

We’re definitely friends if you enjoy these flavors as much as I do and I’d love to know which flavors you’ve grown to love or hate over time. Life changes in funny little ways, doesn’t it? One day you can’t stand something, be it a flavor, a feeling, or a person. And someday later, you find yourself craving it. Every flavor, every experience, adds a note to the story we’re still cooking up.

A little reminder before I end: today, go and try something you think you hate. Who knows? Your taste buds might just surprise you.

See you next week:)