Winter foods attract consumers

With the mercury going sharply down, people have started fully enjoying the winter foods like 'Doodh Jalebi', 'Gajar ka Halwa', chicken corn soup, Kashmiri tea and coffee. Although the stalls offering Kashmiri tea, chicken corn soup and sumptuous winter delights were set up at the start of winter, crowds around them have only started to approach them now.
These stalls have dotted the city, concentrating on Karachi Company, Jinnah Super Market, Super Market, Aabpara Market and F-10 and I-10 Markaz. "Kashmiri tea is high in demand these days. I prepare two drums of tea and it all sells like hot cakes," said Ali Amir, a vendor. "It's unimaginable for me to shop all the time without refreshing myself eventually with a cup of Kashmiri tea or a bowl of hot soup in winter," said Juma Khan, a visitor at G-9 Markaz. Gajar ka Halwa also, is considered to be one of irresistible food items in the winter. Prepared with carrots, condensed milk and dry fruits, the delicious dessert is not only a source of energy, but also adds colour and taste to the meal.
Besides liquid, fried food like 'pakoras', 'samosas' and vegetable rolls are also high in demand. These spicy items are considered to be an integral part of the evening tea. "There is craving for fried items during winter and it's hard to resist," said Sumaira Kanwal, adding that even the weight conscious people could not stay away from this food.
Even the high prices could not stop people from craving for the items. "Chicken corn soup is now available for Rs 50 a bowl, while last year, its price was Rs 30. Nevertheless, taste and quality of chicken and place determines the price," said a visitor at F-10 Markaz. Vendors said prices of everything were soaring so they had also increased the prices of their products. "Sugar crisis has caused prices of these edibles to go higher," they said.
On the other hand, health experts have warned people of having excessive tea, fried snacks and 'halwa', which could have a negative impact on the human health. They advised people to focus on exercise and increase the intake of fruit juices.