14/04/2025
If Payasam were to be made into a jam, for me, it would translate to Coconut Jam or Kaya Jam, a sweet spread made from a base of coconut milk, eggs, sugar and sometimes pandan leaves for flavour, very popular in Southeast Asia.
Food and nostalgia are soulmates. There are only a few things that can transport you back in time like a single bite of something familiar. It might be your grandmother’s stew, slow-cooked and seasoned with her love and stories. Maybe it’s chai & pakodas, eaten on rainy days when life felt simpler. Or that dish your mum made for every festival —imperfect yet perfect!
Food holds memory in a way that is primal and sensory - the smell, taste, texture or the warmth of it in your hands. Often, it’s tied to places, people and emotions. You’re not just tasting the dish—you’re tasting a memory!
Cultural foods are especially potent. One dish can carry an entire heritage, a connection to ancestors and traditions you may not even fully understand, but still feel. That’s why certain meals feel like home, no matter where you are.
Payasam for me is that connect to the past and reminds me of both my mum & grandma who made excellent payasam.
Slathering this Kaya jam on a hot buttered sourdough toast brought back fond memories. Thanks dear for the thoughtful gift, loved it!
Happy Vishu to everyone celebrating and hope you all had epic Payasams!
