Minister Temjen Imna Along Busts Myths Surrounding Naga Cuisine

India is a land of diverse cultures, and this can be seen most prominently in its culinary styles and eating habits. Be it the southern part of the country, the northern region or the western or the eastern sides, each has its own unique blend of flavours to offer. The northeastern states, too, have some interesting dishes and distinct preparations, all of which may not be as popular as momos, but have been explored by foodies around the world. However, there are certain myths surrounding the cuisines and the food served in the northeastern states, such as Nagaland. Many of us believe that the cuisine is completely meat-based and, perhaps, doesn’t offer any vegetarian options. However, Nagaland Minister Temjen Imna Along took to Twitter to bust the myth in his latest post. 

Responding to a Twitter user, who asked him whether vegetarian food is available in Nagaland, the Minister of Higher Education and Tribal Affairs in the state tweeted a host of pictures of fresh vegetables and wrote, "All these organic healthy veggies and still we choose French fries". In the pictures, we could see a whole lot of bunches and stacks of fresh vegetables, including cucumber, okra, tomatoes, beans, types of gourds, mushroom, and spinach. There were also some fruits such as bananas, mangoes, and strawberries. Bamboo stems, which are a common sight in Naga delicacies, were also visible in the picture. 

"See how those fresh veggies are inviting you to Nagaland. Isn't it alluring enough? P.S. Someone asking me whether they will get veg or not in Nagaland", added Temjen. Take a look at the tweet: 

Users of the micro-blogging site loved the post about Naga cuisine and how the minister busted the myth about there being no vegetarian options. His tweet has already raked in over 2.9k likes and hundreds of comments. A few people were impressed by the way the vegetables were stacked up and displayed on banana leaves. "They are the farmers mostly, bringing their products directly for sale", revealed the minister in the comments section. A few users also suggested that this fresh vegetable and fruit produce should be sold in the big cities also. "Important to promote local and seasonal produce AND local and seasonal cuisine to further boost the local economy as well as tourism trajectories" a user wrote. 

Take a look at some of the reactions: 

This is not the first time that the Nagaland minister’s tweet on food has gone viral. He regularly shares pictures and information about his favourite food, often surprising the foodies on the site. Recently, he shared a picture of his dinner meal on Rajdhani Express, while travelling to Dimapur from Guwahati.