Panipuri, Golgappa, Gupchup (I wonder why they call it that). Something us Indians can absolutely not live without. I mean have you ever seen anybody in this country hate it? I'm also sure if somebody from any other part of the world tasted it they'd love it and soon get addicted. Now I (a panipuri lover and addict), have always wondered what made this light brown, round thing filled with aaloo, bataani and masala water so special. Answers came rushing into my head. According to me, this is what makes panipuri irresistible.
First thing. The smell! The moment you pass a panipuri stall, the aroma of the hot curry wafts into the air and forms an invisible hand beckoning you (more like pulling you) to come to it and devour it. Once you pass that place, you're trapped! You can't get yourself to leave without having it. The smell is enough to make your mouth water. And that is what I call, the magnetic power of the smell.
The way one's mouth puffs up to accommodate the panipuri. When you see someone's mouth like that you can literally feel the panipuri breaking and all the pani flooding into your mouth. Makes you want to run like crazy and grab the panipuri from the panipuri waala bhaiyya and feel it for real in your mouth!
The anticipation and excitement you feel when you're the last person in the queue, when the queue is long that is, and the elation you feel when you are the first person in the queue. This is definitely an important contributing factor to the experience. Long queues are always the best. You get enough time to chew and swallow before another puri is given. Short queues are also nice. When there are only like two or three people or you are the only person in the queue, it becomes a very exciting and challenging race between you and the panipuri bhaiyya. You gotta finish the puri before he gives another one! This competition is always fun but one musn't get too ambitious and eat so fast that they either choke on the puri or forget to enjoy the experience.
The heavenly feeling you get when you feel that outer shell break in between your teeth and the water rushes into your mouth like water let out of a dam. That feeling is indescribable. It can't be put down in words. And finally, the Burps! The best thing about the whole experience are the burps. They are even tastier and you'll surely find yourself trying to burp deliberately to feel that taste in your mouth. Your excitement starts waning slowly as the burps lose their taste and finally you start getting tasteless or mixed taste burps. That, marks the end of the whole experience. That, is also when you want to go and eat again! A vicious cycle. :P
Panipuri is something to be eaten messily. The more messier you eat, the more satisfaction you get. When a little pani escapes from your mouth and dribbles down your chin! That is the best thing that could happen as you can keep sweeping your tongue over that area to relive the taste even after you are done eating. I still wonder how people in other countries can live without knowing it's heavenly qualities. Well, in a way they're lucky to not be addicted.
All this writing is making my mouth water. Gotta go and have some immediately!
P.S. This entire thing was written assuming that people know about panipuri, the way it is served and eaten and all the other basic terminologies related to panipuri eating. So basic knowledge is mandatory or you wouldn't be able to appreciate this masterpiece. :P
The way one's mouth puffs up to accommodate the panipuri. When you see someone's mouth like that you can literally feel the panipuri breaking and all the pani flooding into your mouth. Makes you want to run like crazy and grab the panipuri from the panipuri waala bhaiyya and feel it for real in your mouth!
The anticipation and excitement you feel when you're the last person in the queue, when the queue is long that is, and the elation you feel when you are the first person in the queue. This is definitely an important contributing factor to the experience. Long queues are always the best. You get enough time to chew and swallow before another puri is given. Short queues are also nice. When there are only like two or three people or you are the only person in the queue, it becomes a very exciting and challenging race between you and the panipuri bhaiyya. You gotta finish the puri before he gives another one! This competition is always fun but one musn't get too ambitious and eat so fast that they either choke on the puri or forget to enjoy the experience.
The heavenly feeling you get when you feel that outer shell break in between your teeth and the water rushes into your mouth like water let out of a dam. That feeling is indescribable. It can't be put down in words. And finally, the Burps! The best thing about the whole experience are the burps. They are even tastier and you'll surely find yourself trying to burp deliberately to feel that taste in your mouth. Your excitement starts waning slowly as the burps lose their taste and finally you start getting tasteless or mixed taste burps. That, marks the end of the whole experience. That, is also when you want to go and eat again! A vicious cycle. :P
Panipuri is something to be eaten messily. The more messier you eat, the more satisfaction you get. When a little pani escapes from your mouth and dribbles down your chin! That is the best thing that could happen as you can keep sweeping your tongue over that area to relive the taste even after you are done eating. I still wonder how people in other countries can live without knowing it's heavenly qualities. Well, in a way they're lucky to not be addicted.
All this writing is making my mouth water. Gotta go and have some immediately!
P.S. This entire thing was written assuming that people know about panipuri, the way it is served and eaten and all the other basic terminologies related to panipuri eating. So basic knowledge is mandatory or you wouldn't be able to appreciate this masterpiece. :P
