Indian Seasonal Produces- February

 

This month February, let’s enjoy the varieties of tubers, citruses and amaranth. Hence, consuming and stocking different varieties of roots/ tubers, fresh peas and beans is suggested. We can enjoy varieties of citrus fruits, which are in their best moment at present. Also, it’s the finest season to save up those extra fruits and veggies by pickling them as the sun has started peeping in after the winters. 

Pickling can be done two ways – fermented and non-fermented methods. Check my blogpost on the health benefits of pickling  seasonal produces. 

Here is the list of Fruits, Veggies, Grains and Sea foods in season this Feb that give us the maximum health benefits needed to help us tackle all of them if cooked in a correct way. (Note: Read the list and know your local produces and consume them)
We are officially ending the Kharif season. The crops sown in June- July lasts till February.

Here’s the list to buy and eat sustainably this month.

Fruits:
Grapes, Chikku (Sapota), Ber (Indian Jujube/ Plum), Mosambi (Sweetlime), Narangi (Orange), Citrons, Galgal (Hill lemon), Sugarcane, Shahtoot (Mulberries), Dahu (Monkey fruit), Buddhas hand, Noni, Elephant apple/ Chalta, Grapefruit, Prickly pear, Custard apple, Fig, Langsah/Lotka (Langsat), Phalsa (Indian Sherbet Berries), Aloo Bukhara (Indian plum), Kafal (Bayberry), Dadim, Kilmode, Ghingaru, Litchi, Soursop (Mulseethapazham, Hanuman phal).

Other common Fruits- Pomegranate, Papaya, Banana, Guava, Apple, Pineapple.

 
Vegetables:
Carrot, Sweet potato, Purple yam (Kaachil/ Rasavalli kil(zh)angu/ Konfal), Tapioca/ Cassava, Palmyra sprout (Panang kil(zh)angu), Colocasia/ Taro, Yam, Beetroot, Baby Jackfruit/ Kathal/ Palaakaai, Cluster beans, Broad beans, Flat beans, Normal Beans, Goa bean/ chowdhari/ Siragu avvarai/ Winged beans, Cow peas/ long beans, Papdi/ young hyacinth bean, Cauliflower, Raddish, Cabbage, Turkey berry, Naval kol (nool khol/ turnip), Lotus stem, Corn, Capsicum.

Fresh & green beans/ peas/ legumes like green peas, thuar/ pigeon peas, hyacinth beans, double beans, hara cholia/ harbhara.

Other common Vegetables- Bottle gourd, Ash gourd, Ivy gourd (Tindora/ Kovakkaai), Lady’s finger, Bitter gourd, Raw banana, Banana stem/ Plaintain pith, Chayote/ Chow chow, Snake gourd, Brinjal, Potato, Pumpkin varieties.

 
Food grains: Bajra, Wheat, Maize, Rajgira (Amaranth), Kuttu/ Papparai, Ragi, Little millet.
Pulses & Legumes- Channa dal, Kulith (horse gram/ kollu), Bhatma (soya bean), Chole (kabuli channa), Cholia, Urad dal, Tuvar dal, Chow dhari (Goa bean) Vaal (Fava beans), Rajma, Kala vatana (black peas), Kaaramani/ Lobia (Black eyed beans), Groundnut.

 
Green leafy vegetables: Purslane, Dhekia xak, Methi, Beet leaves, Radish leaves, Spring onions, Gongura, Sarson (Mustard greens), Bathuwa (Chakwat/ Parupu keerai), Carrot greens, Shepu (dill), Spring onions, Amaranthus varieties, Spinach varieties, Haak, Indian brahmi.

 
Herbs and spices: Turmeric, Ginger, Garlic, Cardamom, Jeera, Clove, Pepper, Mint, Coriander, Green chilli, Naga chilli.

Fish:

"Nourish your body as Nature intended- Eat seasonally" - MJ 

 

Note: I have studied the Indian seasonal produces with the help of farmers network and various research articles following the guidelines of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) based on the cropping seasons – Kharif, Zaid and Rabi. Thereby, I’ve curated the fruits & vegetables, food grains and rest mentioned that would be available to us based on the sowing- growing and harvesting time period calculated for each month covering every Indian region to the maximum.

Kinds of seafood were studied and curated based on its availability along the West Coast and East coast from CIBA (Central Institute of Brackish Aquaculture) and knowyourfishes.org.in.

I hope this information is helpful to consume local and seasonal produces thereby keeping a check on health too.

Kindly let me know your thoughts if this benefits you all through comments below.

 

 

Thank You!

Maria Jenita, PhD