Childhood nostalgia and delicious semai pitha in the winter mood

When we talk about traditional Bengali pitha, a variety of shapes and flavors come to mind. Winter pitha or the atmosphere of festivals means the excitement of making various types of pitha in Bengali homes. One of the most delicious and mouth-watering dishes is semai pitha or what many also know as chushi pitha. This semai pitha, made with rice powder by hand, becomes incomparable in taste when mixed with the magic of condensed milk and sugar.

Today, when I saw this wonderful bowl of semai pitha in my hand, my mind unknowingly went back to my childhood days. In our country, this pitha is traditionally made with the magic of the perfect hands of women. Rice powder is boiled in hot water and made into a paste. Then, small pieces are cut into small pieces and given a long shape like a thin semai with the help of the palm of the hand. This work requires a lot of time and patience. The mothers or sisters of the house would sit together and chat and make this pitha. The joy and warmth of working together at that time is still etched in my mind.

These pitha were first dried in the sun or left in hot condensed milk while still fresh. When the pitha started to boil with milk, a kind of sweet smell spread throughout the house. In the picture, you can see that when some raisins are spread on this delicious semai pitha in the bowl, its beauty increases manifold. The touch of golden raisins in the white color of milk is not only beautiful to look at, but also enhances its taste while eating.

The feeling of putting the first spoon in your mouth is truly beyond description. The density of milk mixes with the rice pitha and creates a wonderful creamy sensation. The soft and fluffy pitha melts in your mouth as soon as you put it in your mouth. The light scent of cardamom and cinnamon adds a royal touch to the entire meal. The satisfaction of eating a bowl of hot Semai Pitha on a winter morning or sitting in the sweet sun is much more valuable than any expensive food in the world.

In Bengali culture, food is not just a means of filling the stomach but it is a combination of love and memories. Whenever such traditional food is eaten, we remember the beautiful moments spent with family. In today's busy mechanical life, such traditional foods remind us of our roots. The taste of these homemade foods is not possible to find in any restaurant food. Therefore, whenever you get the opportunity, you should fill your mind and soul with such delicious Semai Pitha. I hope you also enjoyed being reminded of this great pitha.