A Taste of the Wild: A Tribal Forest Cuisine Experience

Dhaatri recently hosted "A Taste of the Wild: A Tribal Forest Cuisine Experience," celebrating Adivasi traditions, cuisine, and way of life. In collaboration with Kindness Kitchen, we showcased authentic flavours of Adivasi communities with ingredients sourced directly from their forests, including wild fruits, roots, shoots, and greens from the Nallamalas; organic pulses from Paderu; and forest produce like mahua, chironji, and palash from Panna.

These ingredients, foraged and valued by forest-dwelling communities for generations, inspired traditional recipes drawn from Adivasi culinary practices, including some from our publication Recipes for Climate Change – Recipes for Co-Existence.

Beyond the food, the event offered a glimpse into the deep connection between Adivasi communities and their forests. Our youth from these communities shared insights into their sustainable foraging practices, cultural traditions, and the challenges they face today. The celebration culminated in a lively Adivasi Dimsa (dance).

Through this experience, we aimed to promote an understanding and appreciation of the Adivasi way of life, illustrating how food serves as a powerful medium for sharing their Indigenous wisdom, relationship with nature, and cultural identity.