Start Your Day Right: 9 Popular Breakfast Options In Manaslu
19 Dec 2024 Chandra Gurung
People ask “Chiya Khayo” as a morning etiquette here in Nepal. It means Have you had a tea? Quite fancy right? But this is how Tea is a morning pick-me-up drink.
Things are not quite different even in the high altitudes of Manaslu. People enjoy their bread with Tea (the breakfast is light), sometimes heavy with Paratha, Rotis, and Anda Chana (Boiled Egg and cooked Chickpea).
Is Bread a Traditional Breakfast Option in Manaslu?
Trekkers enjoy their teahouse trek as it is one of a kind, with local guesthouse stopovers, no fancy restaurants, and rich hospitality in the modest form of life. Even in high-altitude places like Lho, Samagaun, and Samdo, people are humble enough to share their food.
Tibetan bread is consumed daily in Manaslu. It is often pan-fried and served with honey, jam, and peanut butter. However, it is not a traditional breakfast option in most regions of Nepal, it’s only popular in high-altitude belts.
From Michelin chefs to local dishes, the Manaslu Circuit trek offers a chance to savor all the raw and rich flavors. While you can get 5-star dishes quite fancy with less seasoning, locals enjoy seasoned food, and things can get quite spicy for your taste buds.
Because of transportation difficulty, high-altitude Manaslu villages have limited options, which makes items not available more expensive. More of the food comes from trading from Tibet than from the lower altitude belts of Manaslu.
What is your favorite Himalayan breakfast?
Ever felt cold inside but the food is not warm enough to keep you relaxed? But that does not happen in the Himalayas. They serve you with warm herbs and spices, that help keep your feet warm and body more relaxed.
What’s your favorite Himalayan breakfast then? Is it a regular breakfast (bread jam with butter tea) or spicy Thukpa (prepared with love)? The choice is yours, but I can’t wait to get back to the trek and have my favorite garlic noodles with scrambled eggs, that just taste magic.
What are the Popular Breakfast options in Manaslu Trek?
Every morning with a sip of coffee or tea you crave something light and still fulfilling to continue ahead in your trek. From Nepali curry and noodle soup to pancakes, you can find a variety of breakfast options in Manaslu Trek.
1. Pancakes
Commonly made with oats or muesli, porridge can be enhanced with fruits or honey. It’s a light option that provides good energy.
2. Breakfast Set:
This typically includes a combination of items such as chapati sandwiches, boiled eggs or omelets, hash browns, and a hot drink
- Chapati or Toast
- Omelets (Veg, cheese, or garlic) or Scrambled/boiled eggs
- Paratha Set (bread stuffed with Potato or Eggs)
- Jhol Tarkari (potato and grains soup curry)
3. Soups
Various types of soup (vegetable, garlic, etc.) are also available and can be a warming option in the cooler mornings. Garlic soup is more common as it is believed to prevent altitude sickness on your part. A warm and comforting spoonful of soup away.
4. Muesli and Cornflakes
It’s a typical English breakfast with cereal ( the only problem is you get limited options and toppings), as they only serve a regular flavor.
ten served with milk, these options provide a quick and easy breakfast that is popular among those preferring lighter fare.
5. Bread Toast
Bread Toast with roasted and boiled potato (Famous Aalu), Milk Masala Tea, Egg (Your choice, often pouch or Omelette), with butter or jam, as you like. Toast and Jam are the most popular.
6. Noodles in Breakfast
We Nepali enjoy Wai Wai, as our staple noodle. Wai Wai Sadheko, Jhol, mixed veg Wai Wai noodles, and one with omelets (we love it all).
If you want lighter and healthier options you can go with boiled noodles and add your soy sauce, chili oil, and vegetables. Chowmein is another prominent stir-fried noodle that is popular in Nepal. So, why wait to try different varieties of Noodles on the menu?
- Fried Noodles (Veg or Egg or Mixed)
- Fried Noodles with Cheese Add on
- Boiled Noodles, Chowmein
- Tenthuk (Tibetan Noodle soup)
- Thukpa (lighter broth-based noodle soup)
- Pasta (Veg Fried, Cheese, Tomato Sauce)
Thenthuk and Thukpa are both popular Tibetan noodle soups but have differences in texture and taste. Thenthuk are flat noodles made with fresh noodles from dough. But thukpa is a noodle soup in Tibetan cuisine, it may also include pre-cooked noodles.
7. Sandwich Set with Potatoes
It’s a classic combo, any day is better than your boring bread and jam. With a side of crispy potatoes, your club sandwich, gonna toast up your trekking days.
- Sandwich ( with Chips) Egg (Optional)
- Sandwich with Grilled Tomato or cheese or Both
- Club Sandwich
- Tomato Sandwich with Grilled Tuna
- Boiled Potatoes, Fried potatoes, Fresh Vegetables
- Egg, or Cheese Roast
You can pair mashed potatoes, with various ranch, and garlic aioli, and make hash brown potatoes, your favorite morning crunch in the Himalayas. We can also take crispy finger chips as a pair up with a sandwich.
8. Premium breakfast in Manaslu
In the Manaslu region, some hotels also serve hearty noodle soup with yak or chicken called Shakpa. You can try deep-fried pakauda with spiced chickpea flour batter. There are other breakfast options on the menu.
- Sherpa Stews (Shakpa)
- Pakauda
- Spring Rolls
- Sizzlers
- Veg and Non-Veg Momo (Buff, Chicken, Pork)
- Fried or Boiled Veg Salad
9. Porridge
A hearty and filling option, often made with oats or barley. You can simply order a simple bowl of oatmeal or porridge with fruits, nuts, honey, and various toppings, just the way you like. It’s a good breakfast choice to have an oat porridge on a cold morning.
What are locals like in Manaslu?
Since the 6th century, Gurung people migrated from Tibet live here. People here follow both Buddhism and the Bonpo faith. They believe all living and non-living things are a form of life (animistic rituals).
Every accommodation in Manaslu serves a story with belief in spirits, both good and evil. They even have some form of practice to pacify those with religious and festival offerings. For example, festivals like Gawai among the Dayak community involve offerings to spirit.
Locals in Manaslu also believe in Shamanic rituals; where one acts as an intermediary between the physical and spiritual worlds. They are like you but different, with cultural and linguistic perspectives.
Conclusion
Coming to a new destination, you might be concerned about your diet and appetite, but Nepali food is warm and comforting. As mentioned, there are several breakfast options to start your day. For any bookings, you can directly contact the Himalaya Guide Team.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between tenthuk and thukpa?
Tenthuk and Thukpa are both popular foods from Tibet. Thukpa is more common as it uses readily available noodles to make a noodle-based lighter broth and serve it with veggies, meat, or toppings of your choice. Tenthuk is relatively available only in the Tibet region, where locals prepare fresh noodles and serve you with hot soup. Thukpa on the other hand is served in every other restaurant in Kathmandu.
2. How is Tibetan bread different from regular bread?
Tibetan Bread is known as flatbread called balep. It usually tastes mild, light, and not overly sweet or salty. It has a natural taste and can be paired with butter, cheese, and honey. It’s soft and fluffy. It is more simple than readily baked bread and tastes delightful when served hot with Tibetan butter tea.
