They combine to make a heavenly daily meal for the average Goan. But Goan cuisine, like the land itself, has many flavours and tastes with its vast treasure trove of culinary delicacies.

The long period of Portuguese rule, besides that of the Muslim and Hindu kingdoms, has left an indelible influence on the original style of Goan cooking and this has led to an exotic mix of truly tasty and spicy cuisine. Most people who sample Goan cuisine, enjoy this different and unique style of food which has a distinct and unique combination of spicy flavours.

A Goan values his food as much as he does his daily siesta (break). And in his daily meal, seafood always has a pride of place is some form or the other. From fried fish to exotic concoctions like ambot-tik, sea food is usually a must on the menu, except for the occasional break for some religious observance.

Goans take pleasure not only in what they eat, but also how they cook it. Although modern conveniences have almost completely taken over in urban areas, the traditional way of cooking in clay pots on firewood continues in most rural areas of Goa. This style of cooking adds an additional smoky flavour to the food, highly valued by Goans.

Despite the two schools of cuisine traditions influenced by the respective religions of Hinduism and Christianity; there are some meeting points that present an interesting harmony. This blend of various cooking styles and influences is what makes Goan food so unique among the cuisines of India.

With a wide variety ranging from prawns to sausages, chicken to beef, and numerous vegetarian dishes, Goan cuisine is able to satisfy even the most finicky gourmet appetites. Goa has some magnificent culinary delicacies like the prawn balch?o and sorpotel which have become famous around the world.

While Hindu Goan food does not seem to have picked up any major Portuguese influence, the Christian food has been influenced not only by the Portuguese, but also by its overseas colonies. Traditional Goan cooking calls for plenty of muscle and time. Grinding is always part of the recipe and the nicer the dish the longer it takes to make.

Goan food is simple but most, though not all, of it is chili hot, spicy, and pungent. Items made from rice, fish, and coconut abound in nearly every Goan meal.

Seafood such as prawns, lobsters, crabs, pomfrets, clams, ladyfish, mussels, and oysters are used to make a variety of curries, fries, soups and pickles. Besides fresh seafood, dried and salted fish dishes are also highly prized by Goans.

In this section we provide a selection of Goa's famous dishes with detailed descriptions of ingredients and cooking methods so you can reproduce the exotic flavor of the dishes in your very own kitchen.

So here is a taste of Goa and if you are travelling to Goa don't forget to pack a healthy appetite.

What to Wear in Goa

Sunhats, sunglasses and sun protection creams also known as sunscreens, are strongly advised and are absolutely essential in every traveler's baggage. Cottons and other light fabrics are the ideal clothes to be carried. If you plan to travel in winters, carry some full-sleeved clothes along with you. It can get a bit chilly at times and it is advisable to carry a warm shawl or you can buy one from the markets of Goa.

The ideal beachwear is a sarong and of course your bikini. Make it bright and colorful to add to the vacation mood. Other clothes are jeans, shorts, skirts and funky tee shirts. Keep a set of formal attire in case you dine at a deluxe hotel or visit a business center. The people of Goa prefer anything that is easy going and serene so decide your baggage accordingly.

The people of Goa prefer to call themselves Goans and are the happiest and the merriest people in India. Goans are very much proud of their cultural heritage and identity and guard it fiercely. They are very warm and courteous people who believe in making friends with almost everyone. They will definitely make sure that your stay over there is the best and will take pains to make sure that you feel at home once you are there. This is why you feel like coming back to Goa year after year.

Goans have cultivated a notable degree of lenience towards other people's religious beliefs. Religious biases are completely unheard of in this fun filled state. The Goans deem themselves as a Goan first and a Hindu, Christian or Muslim afterwards. The attachment of language and the Goan individuality are strong enough to allow harmonious coexistence of different religions. The Goans live life in style and have a leisurely attitude towards life. They are fervent about music, dance and art and they love gorging on their unique food and the traditional Goan feni. Every time you visit Goa, it's more like homecoming.

The best time for visiting Goa is during the months of October to March. This is the ideal time, as the monsoons cross over to the Indian mainland after pouring on the land of Goa. The seas would be calm flanked by soft golden sands and one can see picture perfect blue skies with white clouds strewn here and there. The temperature around this point of time remains low and pleasant, thereby making the stay more eventful and adventurous.

In Goa, the temperature ranges from 25° - 35° Celsius in summers though some days it can go up to 450 Celsius. The days are hot and the evenings and nights are pleasantly cool. During the monsoon season, the temperature ranges from 20° - 30° Celsius and annual rainfall varies from 2500mm to 3500mm. The temperature in winter is pleasant and ranges from 15° - 25° Celsius, making it the best season to explore the colorful and adventurous state