Winter

Food Markets in India: Where to Find Seasonal Specialities

Gujarat – Ponk, Green Garlic, Fresh Herbs

In Gujarat, winter is synonymous with ponk, which is fresh, tender jowar that is roasted or eaten raw with sev, lime and spices. Surat becomes the epicentre of ponk, where roadside stalls appear overnight and offer steaming plates of this short-season delicacy. Markets like Bhatiya and Mandvi go beyond ponk with seasonal fresh herbs, especially green garlic, which is used in chutneys, theplas, and undhiyu preparations. You will also find winter classics, such as undhiyu, a dish made with vegetables like tuvar beans, val papdi, and purple yams, which are sold in neatly arranged piles. 

Punjab & Haryana – Sarson, Bathua, Gajak and Rewari

Punjab and Haryana transform into green belts during winter. Markets are filled with fresh sarson (mustard greens) and bathua, which form the base of the classic sarson ka saag. You will also find heaps of shalgam (turnip) and mooli (radish), along with many shops selling warm pots of gajar ka halwa. For ready-made sweets, winter brings gajak and rewari, made from sesame and jaggery. These are often sold by families who have been making them for generations, setting up small counters with towering stacks of these nutty and crunchy sweets. 

Uttar Pradesh – Gajak, Safeda Oranges, Sweet Potatoes and Makhanas

UP winters revolve around gajak and til ke laddoo, especially around Sankranti. Markets in Lucknow, Varanasi, and Kanpur showcase endless variations, including soft, flaky, crunchy, and nutty laddoos. You will also find roasted sweet potatoes (shakarkandi) served with lime and chaat masala, a winter street favourite in the Northern states.

Another surprise is the arrival of safeda oranges, which are juicier and sweeter during winter. Lucknow markets also offer makhana snacks, roasted and flavoured with spices, making them a perfect seasonal purchase. 

Rajasthan – Raab, Bajra Rotis, Singri, And Warm Sweets

Rajasthan’s winters are cold, and its markets respond with warming foods. Raab, a fermented porridge made with bajra, is sold warm at early-morning stalls. You will also find kaju katli and gond ke laddoo, both believed to generate heat during winter. Local winter vegetables, such as ker, sangri, and gawar phali, make their appearance in small baskets. In Jaipur, vendors also sell fresh bajra khichdi, served with dollops of ghee and jaggery, on leaf plates. Markets such as the Clock Tower area in Jodhpur are also known for selling hot malpua during winter nights.

West Bengal – Nolen Gur, Fresh Greens and Winter Sweets

Bengal’s winter markets revolve around nolen gur. Sweets like nolen gurer sandesh, patishapta, and payesh, among others, appear only for a few weeks each year.

Vegetable stalls overflow with fresh greens, including palong, methi and dhonepata. Kolkata’s Gariahat Market also sells cauliflower and carrots, important ingredients in many seasonal dishes. 

Winter Produce Throughout India

Winter markets in India are more than places to shop; they are windows into regional culture, farming traditions and seasonal identity. Each city has its own way of celebrating the cold months, whether through tender grains, special greens, jaggery sweets or warm street snacks. 

These foods are proof that food and seasonality shape the Indian palate year after year.