The most unique memory I have about the tree is the friendship it helped nurture in the neighborhood
The most unique memory I have about the tree is the friendship it helped nurture in the neighborhood
aTell me about a taste that reminds me of home I could close my eyes and inhale the aroma of bay curry leaves, shallots and whole cayenne pepper in coconut oil, mixed with a splash of mustard was scattered. The smell of crunchy curry leaves and chickpeas coming from the kitchen meant that the meal was ready. Curry leaves, sometimes the whole sprig of them, were widely used in our cooking, their aroma giving each dish a unique yet familiar taste.
On my way to a city, the first time I had to buy curry leaves, I left a little disappointed. The leaves were half withered, and the scent, which always made me nostalgic, was absent. I went home and tried to revive it by putting the leaves in a glass of water. The leaves didn’t freshen, but the water at least helped prevent them from wilting further. All this made me think of a time when I could just take a few steps to my backyard and fetch a fresh sprig of curry leaves whenever I needed it. A large curry tree graced our backyard and made sure we never miss out on this exquisite flavor.
My mother claims that the tree we have in our backyard is the “daughter” of the tree growing in her house and when she came here she brought a sapling and planted it. The strangest memory about the tree is the camaraderie that helped nurture our neighborhood. From time to time, one of our neighbors would come to borrow some curry leaves. While my grandmother happily brought the leaves for them, she chatted about a new recipe, the latest movies in town, the weather and anything and everything.
Monsoon came, shoots sprouted all around the tree. My grandfather picked the healthiest one out of the lot and offered it to our neighbors to grow in their yards, in hopes that they could grow trees in their backyards and walk to our house. Little did he know that the trips were less about ruffling leaves and more about indulging in some friendly chatter. Funny thing is, none of the plants ever seemed to sprout, and our journey home continues. Many times, the favor was returned in fish curry with hot meat gravy, biryani or fresh curry leaves!