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The arrival of mango season brings with it a burst of tropical sweetness and a delightful array of flavors. In this blog, we will dive into the world of Indian recipes that showcase the luscious mango, while also highlighting the availability of this fruit at the New Indian Supermarket in Tracy.!

Mangoes come in various shapes, sizes, and flavors, each with its own distinct personality. From the sweet Alphonso to the tangy Kesar and the fibre-free Dasheri, Indian mango varieties are a treasure trove of taste sensations.

New Indian Supermarket, Tracy: A Mango Paradise

When it comes to sourcing the finest mangoes for your culinary creations, the New Indian Supermarket in Tracy is your go-to destination, ensuring that you can find the perfect mango for your recipe. From the famous Alphonso to the fibre-free dasheri, the New Indian Supermarket, Tracy has it all.

Quick and Delicious Mango Recipes: Now, let's explore some mouthwatering Indian recipes that celebrate the mango:

• Mango Lassi: Blend 1 ripe mango (peeled and chopped) with 1 cup yogurt, 2 tbsp sugar, a pinch of cardamom powder, and a few ice cubes until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve chilled. Optionally, garnish with a sprinkle of crushed pistachios.
  
  
• Aam panna: Boil and peel 2 raw mangoes. Extract the pulp and blend it with 1 cup water, 3-4 tbsp sugar or jaggery, 1 tsp roasted cumin powder, a pinch of black salt, and ice cubes. Strain the mixture and serve chilled.
  
  
• Mango pickle: Mix diced raw mangoes with salt and let it sit for 20-30 minutes. Dry roast and grind 2 tbsp mustard seeds and 1 tbsp fenugreek seeds. Drain the liquid from the mangoes and combine them with the powdered spices, 1 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp red chili powder, and cooled mustard oil. Store in an airtight jar for a day or two before refrigerating.
  
  
• Mango Shrikhand: Take 1 cup strained yogurt (hung curd) in a bowl. Add 1 ripe mango (peeled and chopped), 2 tbsp powdered sugar, and a pinch of saffron strands. Mix well until smooth and creamy. Chill in the refrigerator for an hour. Serve Mango Shrikhand garnished with saffron strands and chopped pistachios.
  
  
•  Aam rass: Peel and chop 2 ripe mangoes. Blend them with 2 tbsp sugar and a pinch of cardamom powder until smooth. Strain the mixture and chill it in the refrigerator for a few hours. Serve the chilled Aam Ras in bowls or glasses, garnished with chopped nuts if desired.

These quick and delicious recipes allow you to make the most of mango season. So, head to the New Indian Supermarket, Tracy embrace the bounty of mangoes, and embark on a culinary adventure that will leave you craving for more!!

Diwali is one of the biggest and auspicious festivals celebrated by Indians all around the globe. The festival of lights signifies peace and joy, the victory of good over evil, and light over darkness every day. During this festival, people clean their homes, decorate every corner with lights, lamps, diyas, flowers, rangoli, and candles. Families also get together to perform Lakshmi Puja and pray to the goddess of wealth to bless them with health, wealth, and prosperity. Besides this, people also visit each other’s homes to exchange gifts and play cards. Diwali is also known for the delicious sweet and savory food that is cooked and exchanged as gifts as well. Decked up in new clothes and jewelry, it is perhaps one of the biggest festivals in India. 

If you don’t know or need a quick recap on the days leading up to and after Diwali, here’s what we know: The first day, known as Dhanteras, is dedicated to cleaning homes and purchasing small items of gold. The second day, called Naraka Chaturdashi or Choti Diwali, commemorates Krishna’s destruction of Narakasura. On the third day, families seek blessings from goddess Lakshmi to ensure their prosperity; light diyas, candles, and make rangoli. This is the day when families visit temples together as well. It is the main day of the Diwali festival. The fourth day, known as Goverdhan Puja, commemorating Krishna’s defeat of Indra, the king of the gods, is also the first day of Karttika and the start of the new year in the Hindu calendar. Merchants perform religious ceremonies and open new account books. The fifth day, called Bhai Dooj, celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. On that day sisters pray for the success and well-being of their brothers.

According to Hindu mythology, the Prince of Ayodhya, Ram, returned home with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman on the auspicious day and since then, every year, that day is marked by the festival of Diwali. They came back to Ayodhya after spending 14 years in exile and defeating Ravan. People of Ayodhya had celebrated their return with great enthusiasm by lighting rows of lamps and diyas. 

We, at New Indian Supermarket, wish you a happy, healthy, prosperous and delightful Diwali and hope that the upcoming year brings all the good things for you and your loved ones. 

Dussehra celebrates Lord Ram's victory over the demon king Ravana and the triumph of good over evil. The epic Ramayana tells the story of Lord Ram whose lovely Sita is taken by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. Ravana plays an important role in the Ramayana. Ravana had a sister known as Shoorpanakha. She fell in love with the brothers Rama and Lakshaman and wanted to marry one of them. Lakshamana refused to marry her and Rama could not as he was already married to Sita.

Shoorpanakha threatened to kill Sita so that she could marry Rama. This angered Lakshaman who cut off Shoorpanakha's nose and ears. Ravana then kidnapped Sita to avenge his sister's injuries. Lord Ram and Lakshaman later fought a battle to rescue Sita, in which they were helped by Lord Hanuman and his huge army of monkeys.

The Mahabharata is another series of Hindu stories that play a role in the Dussehra festival. The Pandavas were five brothers who fought evil forces with a set of distinctive weapons. They abandoned their weapons and went into exile for one year. They hid their weapons in a Shami tree and found them at the same place when they returned from exile. They then worshipped the tree before going to a battle, which they won. This epic is also commemorated during Dussehra.

One of the most prominent symbols or the way Dussehra is celebrated is by burning effigies of Ravana. These effigies are stuffed with firecrackers and sometimes they measure up to hundreds of feet, and burning and watching these effigies burn is often a public spectacle in northern India. Dussehra is always celebrated with much fervor and fanfare, and you can also find Ram Lila - a theatrical play - based on Lord Ram’s life being organized across cities. 

Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated on 2nd October every year to mark the birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who was famously known as Mahatma Gandhi. Father of the Nation, as he was called, led India’s freedom movement along with many other national leaders against the British rule in India. Then and even today, Mahatma Gandhi is globally known as one of history’s most transformative and inspirational personalities. 

Throughout his life in South Africa and India, Gandhi was a fearless campaigner for the rights and dignity of all people and used non-violence as a tool during India’s freedom struggle against the British. And his method of non-violence inspired many civil rights movements across the world. To celebrate and honour his contribution to the nation, 2nd October is celebrated every year as a national holiday. The day is also celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence by the United Nations. 

Gandhi also led some of the most historic movements in India’s freedom struggle. He led Indians to break the salt law, through the Dandi March in 1930, which helped Indians believe that they can challenge the might of the British. He also led the Quit India movement in 1942.

Despite being such a prominent public figure in India and other parts around the world, Gandhi had a deep fear of public speaking. But he managed not only to overcome his fears, but to turn them into his power. His fear of speaking made him an excellent listener, whose humility and empathy allowed him to channel the dreams and aspirations of the masses. His hesitancy with words taught him the power of saying more with less - and today, these words continue to inspire countless millions across the globe.

Famous Words By Mahatma Gandhi

When restraint and courtesy are added to strength, the latter becomes irresistible.

An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.

Where there is love there is life.

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.

Hate the sin, love the sinner.

In a gentle way, you can shake the world.

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

Action expresses priorities.

If you don't ask, you don't get it.

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

“Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil me hai, dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai,” / "Dushman ki goliyon ka hum samna karenge, Azad hee rahein hain, Azad hee rahenge.” These are the famous words from Ramprasad Bismil and Chandra Shekhar Azad. Words that still give us goosebumps and symbolize India’s freedom struggle even 75 years later. This year, amid the coronavirus pandemic, India celebrates its 75th Independence Day on August 15. 

 In India, August 15 is celebrated every year to commemorate India’s freedom from the British rule in 1947. After independence, India became the world's largest democracy after the UK Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act, 1947, transferring legislative sovereignty to the Indian Constituent Assembly. On the eve of India’s independence, then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had said in his ‘Tryst with destiny’ speech, "At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom."

 Every year, the Prime Minister of India hoists the national flag at Delhi’s Red Fort and makes an address to the nation, which is followed by a military parade. The President of India also delivers the ‘address to the nation’ speech. In honour of the occasion, twenty-one gun shots are fired.

 This year, India celebrates Independence Day based on the theme ‘Nation First, Always First’. The country will celebrate its 75th year of Independence at Red Fort from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on August 15, 2021.All the athletes who won medals at Tokyo Olympics 2020 have also been sent special invites to attend Independence Day 2021. Like Independence Day was celebrated in 2020, this year’s celebrations will also be restricted to the public and no cultural performances and events will be staged by the children. 

To really get you in the spirit of azaadi, here are a few more slogans that became synonymous with the Indian freedom fighters who used them:

“Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe aazadi dunga” - Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

“Swaraj mera janmsiddh adhikaar hai aur main isey lekar rahunga” - Bal Gangadhar Tilak

“Inquilab zindabad” - Bhagat Singh

World Chocolate Day, sometimes referred to as International Chocolate Days, is the annual celebration of chocolate. Occurring globally on July 7, the day was first celebrated back in 2009. However, besides this day, many countries even have their own national days where they celebrate chocolates. Not that chocolate lovers really needed an excuse to enjoy this yummy delicacy, but World Chocolate Day is just proof that this sweet treat deserves to be celebrated around the world! Whether you are a fan of milk chocolate or dark chocolate or like your chocolate white or with a hint of bitter in it, over the years, chocolate has taken so many shapes, forms, and tastes, that now nobody really has an excuse to hate it! 
As delicious as chocolate is, we can’t ignore the health benefits that come from consuming it (in moderation, of course). So, if you are looking for the perfect excuse to indulge today, here are a few benefits you can reap. 

• Improves brain function
• Powerful source of antioxidants
• Can improve blood flow
• Can reduce stress
• Mood-booster

• Chocolate lava cake 
• Chocolate pudding
• Chocolate pie
• Black forest cake
• Chocolate and walnut brownies
• White chocolate fluffy cake
• Chocolate and strawberry cupcakes
• Chocolate and almond cookies
• Dark, white and milk chocolate cookies
• Peanut butter chocolate cake

In 2021, the International Day of Yoga will be marked at a time when COVID-19 pandemic continues to upend lives and livelihoods of people globally. This is the second consecutive year that the day will be celebrated during the pandemic across the world. With “Yoga For Well-Being” as this year’s theme, it’s focus continues to be on improving mental and physical well-being. 

Beyond its immediate impact on physical health, the COVID-19 pandemic has also exacerbated psychological suffering and mental health problems, including depression and anxiety, as pandemic-related restrictions continue in various forms in many countries. This has highlighted the urgent need to address the mental health dimension of the pandemic, in addition to the physical health aspects. 

The message of yoga in promoting both the physical and mental well-being of humanity has never been more relevant. There has also been a growing trend of people around the world embracing yoga to stay healthy and rejuvenated and to fight social isolation and depression during the pandemic. Recognizing this important role of yoga, this year’s “yoga for well-being” is all about how the practice of yoga can promote the holistic health of every individual. 

How does yoga help the yogi?

1. Yoga improves strength, balance and flexibility

Slow movements and deep breathing increase blood flow and warm up muscles, while holding a pose can build strength.

2. Yoga helps with back pain relief

Yoga is as good as basic stretching for easing pain and improving mobility in people with lower back pain.

3. Yoga can ease arthritis symptoms

Gentle yoga has been shown to ease some of the discomfort of tender, swollen joints for people with arthritis according to various studies.

4. Yoga benefits heart health

Regular yoga practice may reduce levels of stress and body-wide inflammation, contributing to healthier hearts. Several of the factors contributing to heart disease, including high blood pressure and excess weight, can also be addressed through yoga.

5. Yoga relaxes you, to help you sleep better.

Research shows that a consistent bedtime yoga routine can help you get in the right mindset and prepare your body to fall asleep and stay asleep. It can also mean more energy and a brighter mood. 

Every year, June 7 is celebrated as World Food Safety Day. The event aims to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development. Recognizing the global burden of foodborne diseases, which affect people of all ages, in particular children under-5 and persons living in low-income countries, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed in 2018 that every 7 June would be World Food Safety Day. 

This year’s theme, ‘Safe food today for a healthy tomorrow’, emphasizes on the fact that production and consumption of safe food has immediate and long-term benefits for people, the planet and the economy. 

When it comes to food safety, everyone has a role to play from farm to table to ensure the food we consume is safe and healthy. Through the World Food Safety Day, WHO works to mainstream food safety in the public agenda and reduce the burden of foodborne diseases globally. 

In the wake of the global pandemic, food safety has become more important than ever. And in order to guard your and your family’s health, here are four basic steps for food safety you could follow at home. 

1. Clean: Always wash your food, hands, counters, and cooking tools. Wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds before and after you touch the food. Wash your cutting boards, dishes, forks, spoons, knives, and countertops with hot soapy water. Do this after working with each food item. Alternatively, you could even use a cleaning agent. Rinse fruits and veggies thoroughly, even if you are buying organic produce.

2.  Separate: Germs can spread from one food to another so keep everything apart, especially raw foods. Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs away from other foods. This applies to when you keep the foods in your shopping cart, bags, and fridge too. Use a special cutting board or plate for raw foods only.

3. Cook: Foods need to get hot and stay hot. Heat kills germs. Use a food thermometer to make sure that food is done. You can’t always tell by looking.

4. Chill: To the ones that this can be applied to, put food in the fridge right away. You should ideally put foods in the fridge or freezer within 2 hours of cooking or buying from the store. Do this within 1 hour if it is 90 degrees or hotter outside. Never thaw food by simply taking it out of the fridge. Allow food to thaw in the fridge or you could also put it under cold water or in the microwave. 

At New Indian Supermarket, we strive to offer you only the best groceries while maintaining top-notch health and safety standards. And while we do everything we can to make sure you and your loved ones stay healthy, we urge and encourage you to follow the above steps even with food that you buy from our store. 

Let's be honest, we all love waking up to a nice, hot cup of tea (unless you are one of those who look for a caffeine kick early in the morning). And some of us can even make tea a part of our mid-day snack, lunch, evening snack, and even dinner. Whether you want to instill some calmness in your body and mind or just have a flavourful drink, there are so many types of teas we can relish for different purposes now. In honor of International Tea Day, here's a look at why we celebrate tea each year and the benefits of different types of teas.

Celebrating International Tea Day

Re-emphasizing the call from the Intergovernmental Group on Tea to direct greater efforts towards expanding demand, particularly in tea-producing countries, the General Assembly of the United Nations decided to designate 21 May as International Tea Day.

The Day now promotes and fosters collective actions to implement activities favouring the sustainable production and consumption of tea and raise awareness of its importance in fighting hunger and poverty.

The Origins of Tea

Made from the Camellia Sinensis plant, tea is said to be the world's most-consumed drink, after water. It is believed that tea originated in northeast India, north Myanmar, and southwest China, but the exact place where the plant first grew is not known. The drink has been with us for a long time and by now has countless variants.

Tea consumption can bring health benefits and wellness due to the beverage's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and weight loss effects. It also has cultural significance in many societies. Since all tea comes from the same plant, the differences between the types of tea are primarily due to how they are processed after the leaves are picked. In theory, any tea plant growing anywhere can have its leaves made into any kind of tea, but this is not done in practice because geography and growing conditions are critical factors to the outcome along with local expertise.

Different Types of Teas and Their Benefits

White Tea: Known to have a delicate flavor, white tea comes is the least processed tea variety. Studies show that it may be the most effective tea in fighting various forms of cancer thanks to its high level of antioxidants. It is a good source of fluoride, catechins, and tannins that can strengthen teeth, fight plaque, and make them more resistant to acid and sugar. This variety also offers the least amount of caffeine.

Herbal Tea: Sometimes called tisanes, herbal teas are very similar to white teas, but they contain a blend of herbs, spices, fruits, or other plants in addition to tea leaves. They don't contain caffeine and are mainly known for having a calming effect. Some of the most popular varieties include chamomile tea, peppermint tea, ginger tea, and hibiscus tea. All of these can be used to treat various ailments as well.

Green Tea: Green tea originates from China, where the leaves are processed with heat using a pan-firing or roasting method, and Japan, where the leaves are more commonly steamed. Green tea is exceptionally high in flavonoids that can help boost your heart health by lowering bad cholesterol and reducing blood clotting. This tea variety has also shown to be anti-inflammatory, which helps keep your skin clear and glowing.

Black Tea: Black tea leaves are dried and fermented, giving black tea a darker color and richer flavor. Unlike many other varieties, black tea is caffeinated, so it might not be the best option for those of you turning to tea for its calming properties. It's known to combat inflammation and support healthy immune function. Black tea can also be steamed, cooled, and then pressed on minor cuts, scrapes, and bruises to relieve pain and reduce swelling. 

Oolong Tea: Oolong tea is known for containing l-theanine, an amino acid that reduces anxiety and increases alertness and attention. It is also high in polyphenols, which are linked to lowering inflammation, preventing the growth of cancers, and decreasing type 2 diabetes risk.

The term ‘organic’ refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. However, the term is used for a variety of products now, including but not limited to fabric, skincare, makeup etc. While the regulations vary from country to country, in the US, organic crops must be grown without the use of any synthetic herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers, or bioengineered genes (GMOs). This means that even livestock raised for meat, eggs and dairy products must be raised in healthy living conditions and fed organic feed. Not only does organic production help reduce public health risks, evidence from various studies shows that food grown organically are rich in nutrients, such as Vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus, with less exposure to nitrates and pesticide residues in organically grown fruits, vegetables, and grains when compared to conventionally grown products.

At New Indian Supermarket, we assure you that the quality of our fresh produce and all our products are at par with what’s best for your nutritional requirements. We pride ourselves on following ‘quality first’ standards and promise you that we will continue to strive to deliver only the best. Here are some reasons why scientists and food specialists are encouraging people to go organic.  

1. Nutrition: Organic food contains more vitamins, minerals, enzymes and micronutrients than conventionally raised food. 
2. Environmental benefits: When you choose organic food, you automatically support the cultivation of a healthy environment, which is the need of the hour. Organic farming rebuilds soil health and stops harmful chemicals from getting into water supplies. Organic farming also releases fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Reduce pesticides in your diet: Organic farming produces healthy food without the use of toxic pesticides. However, some organic farmers do use pesticides that are primarily derived from natural substances. 
4. Improve overall health: No artificial colours, flavors or preservatives are allowed in organic food. Cleaner food means cleaner diets which leads to improved overall health.
5. Boost immune system: By eating organic foods, you also boost the strength of your immune system because organic foods are not altered at all. Furthermore, free from harmful chemicals, organic foods have quality and higher vitamin and mineral contents that help to strengthen the immune system without having to take any artificial supplements. 

It has been over a year since the coronavirus pandemic turned our lives upside down. Life as we knew it will probably never be the same. Masks and sanitizers replaced all our previous must-haves and social distancing replaced all our social etiquettes. As soon as countries announced a complete lockdown with only essential services to remain open, chaos took over grocery stores. People started hoarding food and daily items like toilet paper. Some stores in the US and other countries even saw shoppers fight with each other to get their hands on the last unit of toilet paper or soup. This pandemic and the loss it caused worldwide were unprecedented. But we had to adapt. 

As life starts to get back to normal and we have COVID vaccines, we must still take precautions and be safe - for ourselves and for others too. Even though most businesses, including grocery stores, are back in business, we can’t forget that we are still in the middle of the pandemic. Our lives and those of our loved ones are still at risk and to avoid any mishappenings, it’s important to still follow guidelines that we were told to follow a year ago. 

We at New Indian Supermarket are taking all the precautions to keep our employees and our customers safe, and we hope that when you do visit our store, you adhere to all the safety guidelines too. In case you are still not sure about entering a supermarket, then we also provide a curbside pickup service, wherein you can simply call us, place an order and we will pack your groceries and leave them right outside our store. You can then pick up your order without having to make contact with anyone else. 

We care about our customers’ safety and therefore, below are a few things you should keep in mind as you step out of your home for grocery shopping.

• Wear a mask. Double up if possible
• Go during hours when fewer people will be there (for example, early morning or late night)
• Clean your hands with a sanitizer before you enter the store
• Disinfect the shopping cart, use disinfecting wipes if available
• If you normally bring your own reusable shopping bags, ensure they are cleaned before each use
• Use marked entry or exit points and follow any directional signs or floor markings 
• Maintain at least a 1 metre/6 feet distance from others
• Try not to touch too many things
• Cover a cough or sneeze in your bent elbow or tissue
• If possible, use touchless payment (pay without touching money, a card, or a keypad). If you must handle money, a card, or use a keypad, use hand sanitizer right after paying
• Once home, wash your hands thoroughly 
• Thoroughly wash all the items you have bought - especially fruits and vegetables