Gourmet products local specialties and wines Delhi

If the inhabitants of Delhi appreciate it, it is because the atmosphere is simple and popular. It's true that this kind of big open-air shopping mall has a little old-fashioned charm that we really liked. As is often the case in India, the merchants are grouped by specialty in the same alley or the same neighborhood. You will find in Karol Bagh clothes, wedding articles or household linen. Jewelers gather on Gurudwara Rd, while Gaffar Market is dedicated to electronics and household appliances.

The small shop, held by a French very well-spoken Sikh, offers the best teas, chai and spices in the neighbourhood. Saffron, of exceptional quality, is at a competitive price, nutmeg is sold in their hulls, les pods of seeds will come to perfume your desserts and prolong your holidays. You will surely be offered a chai winery and if you succumb to this beverage, don't forget to take the shop card, the recipe is noted on the back.

This market stretches for 500 meters from Outer Circle to the Imperial Hotel. You will find in the stalls clothes and handicrafts more or less old. The commercial artery continues with the Tibetan Market: handicrafts from Tibet, statuettes of Hindu gods, cotton fabrics, etc. Less convincing than the Tibetan market in North Delhi, it is still worth a visit if you are in the area. A word of advice: bargain hard. You will also find Rajasthani artisans and hawkers offering anything and everything.

The neighborhood, known for its book market, is also the right place for aspiring and experienced musicians. Stores are lined up along Netaji Subhash Avenue and in the adjoining alleys, between Delhi Gate and Jama Masjid metro stations. You can find all the classical instruments of Indian music(sitar, tabla, sarod, flutes...) as well as violins and guitars. But the articles are not always of good quality.

Connaught Place is full of gastronomic institutions that one hardly notices, caught up in the crowd and the gaudy stores. Wenger's is one of them. Since 1926, the reputation of this pastry shop that delights gourmands is well established. The employees are as numerous as the specialties; normal, when a crowd is constantly jostling in front of the cakes, cookies, sandwiches or pies (savory and sweet). You can leave with your selection or enjoy it on the red-brick table.

The largest spice market in Asia is known for its quality products and competitive prices. It is named after the salt water tank (bâoli) in the street. In the middle of a noisy and crowded atmosphere, you will find all kinds of spices, but also herbs, dried fruits (especially at Jain Dry Fruits at stand n° 6530), tea, pickles... This market, which has been in operation for over a hundred years, is frequented by restaurateurs and individuals alike for the quality of its Basmati rice.

The store is discreet and yet it is always full. With its choice of various milkshakes (vanilla, pineapple, mango, chocolate, butterscotch, coffee...), Keventer's delights the taste buds and quenches thirst. The fresh flavored milk is served in bottles, to be tasted on the spot. A gourmet break that is not to be refused, especially since the shop is a real institution. It dates back to 1925, when Edward Keventer, a Swedish milkman charged with modernizing the dairy industry in India by the British government, created his own farm in Delhi.

This well-stocked minimarket is all about hygiene and storage. The goods are arranged by theme on large wooden shelves and racks. From toiletries to children's games to the spice corner, you'll find all kinds of local products and a few imported Western brands. You can fill a small hunger with a fresh cake from Angel's Basket. At the back of the store, a few refrigerated display cases offer a wide selection of drinks, fresh vegetables and chocolate bars.

As its name suggests the place is ideal for tasting kulfi, this ice cream flavoured with cardamom or saffron. We recommend the fadula kulfi with rose water vermicelli, a delight! During a shopping trip to the Karol Bagh market, Delhiites meet here to share a breakfast or fill a small snack or a plate of paneer tikka. With its large red letters on a white background, it is hard to miss the sign. The frequent queue at all hours is another good clue.

It's no secret. After spending some time in India, the call of the chocolatine is beginning to be felt. Laurent Samandari has put an end to years of frustration in the French community by opening this "authentic French bakery-pastry shop". You'll find croissants, chocolate eclairs, baguette paysanne and savory snacks (quiches, puff pastries and pizzas). We recommend you to try the small macaroons, delicious. The price is rather French, but the taste is like the concept of the establishment: authentic.

This street is specialized in everything related to the traditional Hindu wedding. You can find decorations as well as accessories and even wedding outfits. Managed from generation to generation by middle-class families, these colorful shops are a pleasant stroll. The alley is particularly lively during the Dussehra festival. If you come here in December, you will find decorations for your Christmas tree at very low prices! Don't hesitate to branch off to Chandni Chowk and its alleys full of stalls.

Well occupied by temples, the avenue of Chandni Chowk also offers stores. On the opposite side of the street from the Jain temple, you will find second-hand electronic goods. On the side of the temples, you will see small stalls of toys to which succeed stores of traditional textiles offering sari, kurta and salwar really cheap. They are frequented by the working class of the city. You will notice in passing that these stores resemble the stalls found in the souks of Morocco. Here, they are called katras.

This set of stores and stalls punctuates all the alleys of the district. One comes here to stock up on Tibetan products at a lower price than at the Tibetan Market in Connaught Place: rosaries, bowls, thangkas, carpets, yak cheese, but also all the equipment necessary for an expedition in the Himalayas. Most of the stores are run by Tibetan refugees who welcome you with a smile and above all with calm. The combination of the two makes shopping very pleasant. Although the prices are fixed, one can usually negotiate.

Chawri Bazar is the largest supply market in Asia. On the one hand, you will find utensils such as copper pans or brass locks. More interesting for the passing visitor, aluminum dishes that you see everywhere in the popular districts and the famous tiffins, these small multi-level bowls that you can find here at a lower cost. On the other side, wholesalers sell paper by the roll and greeting cards. Rather intended for professionals, the market also welcomes individuals

The middle and upper classes come here to shop "chic" and eat "smart". In the 1950s, the people of Pakistan used to run book stores here. Today, there are a few bookstores, but mostly decorating and textile designer stores, international brands, watches, jewelry, music, cosmetics and beauty salons. In Khan Market, the quality is there, but the prices are higher than elsewhere. The market is also known for its dried fruit stalls.

The district is known to all budget travelers. Like its establishments, the prices of the stores that form its bazaar are rather cheap. Afterwards, we strongly recommend you to negotiate because the sellers tend to confuse tourists with piggy banks. You will find everything: cheap clothes, incense, statuettes, bedspreads, cushion covers, belts, shoes, costume jewelry. Beware of sellers who guarantee the authenticity of a product or its antique character. Perfect for those who like shopping more baba than bobo.

From powdered ginger to colander to cherry tomatoes to tea cups, INA Market is the perfect spot for those interested in cooking. Locals and expatriates alike come to this place known for its comprehensive fresh produce and staples. The stalls look like mini grocery stores and allow you to stock up in bulk. If you are a fan of Bollywood movies, have a look at the small DVD and CD stand (opposite the public toilets), you will find great classics and new releases with subtitles, at low prices.

It is impossible to come to India without tasting the kulfi, the favourite ice of children and adults. Here you are sure to have a quality product that has not been thawed and recongelé 10 times. It is a long ice pacifier, particularly creamy and sweet. The most famous is pistachio, but it also has rose, mango or cream (malai). The other specialty is the kulfi kulfi. It is a mixture of ice and vermicelli of corn starch sprinkled with syrup. Ideal as soon as the sun touches a little.

It is impossible to come to India without tasting the jalebi (pronounced "jélébi"), a fritter made of wheat, corn or chickpea flour, fried in cane sugar syrup. They are easily recognized by their serpentine shape and bright orange color. For once, all Delhiites agree: the best in the capital can be enjoyed at the Old Famous Jalebi Wala on Chandni Chowk. The kiosk located near the Sikh Gurudwara has been making sweet ribbons since 1884. It is fair to say that they have the knack and a well-developed recipe.

This 2 km long open market is famous for its low cost shoes. Everyone will find what they are looking for and in principle their size, even if the very large sizes are very rare! Ladies, if you like glitter and rhinestones, you will be served. Gentlemen, for you, the latest sneakers in their Indian style and city models in imitation leather, sometimes convincing. Also clothing and lingerie stores. As in other markets, there are stands selling snacks and pastries at low prices.