Sitting in an unassuming cafe barely deeper than its dessert cabinet, 1,500 meters up at the base of the Himalaya Mountains in Dharamsala, India, is an unpolished block of chocolate and marshmallow. A bar of cocoa, walnut, and caloric magic lit beneath the glowing smile of a middle aged Tibetan who lives in this exile community. I should have gotten his name but in between searching for his most popular creation subtly named ‘Tibet Special’ – and consuming it – all I could think about was how early to get there the next morning, before he sells out. Something that happens everyday in his shop that’s open daily, with exception for closings to honor regular self-immolations occurring in Tibet – a reminder that Dharamsala is a seed of calm amid political chaos.
The $0.70 (yes, you converted correctly) Tibet Special isn’t the only chocolate bar sold in this McLeod Ganj shop and everyone in town seems to have a personal favorite. It is however, a debate worthy of your full investigation. You can find this literal hole in the wall on Jogiwara Road close to Yak Restaurant or get directions from anyone with a sweet tooth worth 45 rupees. Ask for the Tibet Special and simply follow the smiles.
Sweet or salty, where’s the one bite you’ll never forget? We can start a map of deliciousness based on your recommendations in the comments section below.
Looks totally yummy. I want some!
A perfect excuse to visit Dharamsala! 🙂
There was this place on the EBC trek in Nepal, I’d have to check a map to remember the name, but they had the most delicious ‘cinnamon roll’ I’ve ever ordered in my life. It came out looking like a big fried pastry something, but on poke with a fork and cinnamon ooze started pouring out all over the plate. It was warm and tender and everything perfect in the world.
Sounds like a most wonderful way to get the calories to continue up to the camp…
It was precisely that. I’m not sure I’d want to eat one on a normal day, but in the middle of weeks of hiking it was absolutely the thing.
We’ve tried many new and delicious foods over the last year, and often on long travel days we’ll daydream about those flavors, imagining that they’re going to pop up in the next town. The crazy thing is that the item that has seems to have the strongest hold on me is not anything special or even the first thing I think of when I start talking foods. Once the thought of simple Honduran baleadas comes to mind though, my brain turns into a pouty child’s -completely inconsolable that I can’t have one right that second, haha! They’re just a simple street food, but sometimes that’s the part that makes the food memory stick. That said, now all I can think about is your chocolate treat! Yum!
Most of the best foods I’ve encountered are simple ones whose ingredients are combined creatively. I haven’t had baleadas but now as you’re thinking about Tibet Special, I’m imagining that Honduran treat!
All I’ve got to say is Yummmm!
🙂 🙂 🙂
well now i must try it
You won’t regret it!
Did you go to Bhagsu? Small village just beyond McLeod Ganj? They do a really nice cake, kind of like a caramel slice called Bhagsu Cake, it was seriously tasty! We found it down in Goa a few months later, the guys who had been working seasonally in the mountains had relocated to Goa for the opposite season and brought the recipe with them- nice surprise for us!!
I did wander around there but missed the cake! I’ll have to keep it in mind for next time, thanks for letting me know of its existence 🙂
Cannot wait to try it 🙂
the best taste ever so far: a fresh nicely ripe figue in Puglia, Italy!!!
So many great tastes come out of Italy…
I sould try that too!!
Absolutely 🙂
Mmmm chocolate…
With Saint-Nickolas and Christmas over here my fridge is flooded with chocolate and everyday is a battle to find the right balance between eating LOTS of chocolate and not getting a stomach ache:D
But finding that point is a lot of fun 😉
Yummyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
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