About the Experience

Treat your tastebuds to an eclectic mix of cuisines on this whistle-stop Kochi food tour through the Muslim, Hindu, and Christian areas of this diverse Indian port city. Nibble on snacks like biryani, thali, and pollichathu curry, stroll through the markets, and wash your experience down with a drink at a toddy bar as you brush shoulders with the locals.

Highlights:

• Get to know the local culture of India through its food
• Sample tasty treats from the Muslim, Hindu, and Christian areas of Kochi
• Taste traditional dishes such as biryani, dosa, andthengapal
• Sip on palm wine and nibble on bar food with locals at a toddy bar
• Wander through the local spice and fruit and vegetable markets of Kochi

Tour Style: Walking, Orientation trips using local transport, Food, Cuisine, Market Visits, Local Life, Culture

Inclusions: Local English speaking guide, transport, biryani, dosa, tea, and snacks

Exclusions: Toddy Bar drinks, market spending, items of a personal nature, tips / gratuities for guide.

Group Size: Max. 12

Schedule Details: 

• Duration: 3 hours
• Meeting point: Outside No. 18 Hotel, near Fort Kochi main bus station, opposite the police station.
• Starting time: 9.00 AM
• Ending point: Outside No. 18 Hotel, near Fort Kochi main bus station, opposite the police station.

Itinerary:

Dive deeper into the captivating culture of India on this Kochi food tour that takes you on a flavourful journey through the Muslim, Hindu, and Christian areas of this fascinating city.

Your Kochi tour will begin at No. 18 Hotel, where you’ll meet your local guide, take a walk down the road through a bazaar, and glimpse into the life of the spice traders we’ll find here. We’ll stop for a tea or coffee and snacks at a local tea shop, easing you nicely into the culture of Kochi. We continue this Kochi day tour into the heart of Mattancherry, where we’ll find a treasure trove of Muslim culture and food.

As we continue onwards to the Hindu areas of Kochi, you’ll notice a chance in scenery. The store fronts will change from butchers to fruit and vegetable vendors. The Hindu community is strictly vegetarian, so as we enter their neighbourhood you’ll notice that you’re surrounded by fresh fruit and veg, and here you’ll get to try Hindu dishes like dosa, appam, and a vegetarianthali. If you’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth, we’ll also find some Indian sweets along the way, too. Your local guide will explain everything you need to know about these dishes, and make recommendations for which you might like depending on your tastes.

Your next stop on this Kochi tour will take you into the Christian area of the city. Your local guide will lead you to a local toddy bar, where you can enjoy a dash if fisherman’s culture and kick back with the locals. Here you’ll get to try toddy, which is a local palm wine, and nibble on traditional bar food such as tapioca, fish, crab, mussels, clam, sardines, mackerel, and much more. These are served up in various forms of curry, such as pollichathu or thengapal, and are very popular with the locals, so you know what you’re having is authentic. Usually, you’ll only find local men sitting at a toddy bar, as it’s not custom for women to drink here. However, it is perfectly acceptable for foreigners, both men and women, to join in, so you will not de frowned upon for raising a glass with the locals.

This cultural Kochi tour is like a food tour and lesson on the religious groups of Kochi all rolled into one. Getting to know the different ways in which people prepare their food here is one of the best ways to get in touch with the rich and diverse city of Kochi. From the freshest seafood (it is a port town, after all!) to the vast array of spices you can take home with you, there’s never a dull moment with Kochi food.

Cost Includes

• Local English speaking guide
• Transport
• Biryani
• Dosa
• Tea
• Snacks

Special Instructions

• Voucher exchange details: Please present your voucher to the local guide at the beginning of the tour.
• Dress standard: It is customary for women to dress modestly in India. This means that all female guests should cover their knees and shoulders when they are out in public.
• Child policy: Children must be 6 years of age to 11 years inclusively. Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour.