A Lingering sweetness follows the sharp kick of tanginess, leaving a tingling sensation in our gums as we bite into a piece of kachcha-pakka aam, sprightly in its spring viridescence. It is just the kind of emotion that we cherish years after having tried it at a kachchi kairi thelawala's, perhaps outside our school. Sprinkled with coarse rock salt and wrapped in yellowing newspaper, this simple street-side snack harks us back to simpler times. But nostalgia isn't the only virtue of a raw mango, that also boasts of multiple health benefits and serves as a versatile condiment to play around with. From wafer-thin slices being sold on pushcarts to piquant curries being cooked in homes — kairi has many avatars. Which one is your favourite?

Raasta roko