If there’s one thing that holds true for the Indian palate, it’s how diverse it is. From one state to the next, the mix of spices, flavours, and ingredients changes so much that the variety is nearly endless.  

In a move to highlight the diversity that is Indian cuisine, India Post issued a series of 24 stamps on Friday, celebrating food from across the country.

While trademark sweets like malpua, thekua, motichoor laddoo, peda and modak populate the list, there are staples from different states also present.

Hyderabad’s favourite, the biryani, got a stamp of its own. The bhagare baingan and the seviyan are also featured. The famous Tirupati laddoo from Andhra also made it to the list.

Staple breakfast dishes from the south were also on the cards. While one stamp is dedicated to the humble pongal, another features the light and filling baby appam. The idli and the dosa also made it to the list, though put together in a single stamp.

From the western and central states there were delicacies like gujhiya, dhokla, and the dal baati, all of which got exclusive stamps. The vada pav, one of the quintessential snacks of Maharashtra, also got a stamp of its own.

The Bihari landmark litti chokha has also been memorialised in the list.

From the northern states, makke ki roti and sarson ka saag and chhole bhature found their way onto their own stamps.

And there was the all time favourite gol gappa too!

One major absence from the list of stamps, however, is that no particular dishes from the northeastern states have been included.

The special series of stamps was released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of the World Food India 2017 on Friday. Each of the stamps is priced at Rs 5. 

(Photos courtesy Indian Postage Stamps)