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Teto (bitter by taste)

Published by:    Updated on: May 15, 2013

Teto - Utterly Bitterly Healthy by tradition

Starter in Bengali menu seems some dishes that tastes bitter at first, but like a tongue palate cleanser towards more flavors to excite the taste buds. In Bengali if someone needs to describe others facial expression or attitude as bleak or sullen and/or explain own gloomy mood or feeling, they relate to the facial expression that occurs while drinking quinine or chirata water. Any bitter relationship is explained in Bengali by "as bitter (সম্পর্কের তিক্ততা) as chirata."

Date published: 05/15/2013


When I was very young I did not like that taste, my parents always encouraged us to take some plain rice after taking it. It is like a habit now and interestingly even if I take some water, I feel some sweetness triggered back in my mouth.

From Los Angels Times I read this articles about the neem.  Rabindranath Tagore, the great Indian poet and Nobel laureate, is said to have drunk neem juice every morning for his health. Gandhiji chewed neem leaves before his meals.

The Indians and Africans also used Neem (Margosa) chew sticks (Neem Daton) for countless years to oral care.  Chew the end of the stick to form bristles and then carefully rub the bristles along the gum line as we use toothbrush. Cut off the end each time to use it to ensure freshness.  This will serve to clean the teeth by dislodging debris and the semi-abrasive brush will strengthen gums and teeth.

TETO RECIPES:
Bitter Bites
- Some bitterly Bengali starter items.(to serve with steamed rice)


Morning Mists
- Some more bitter things in the morning before breakfast (need to take on an empty stomach) to kick the acute bitterness back.