An authentic find

I’d have loved to scour Anjuna’s famed Wednesday market, trawl the bazaars at Mackie’s and Ingo’s on Saturday and amble through the charming streets of Panjim, in search of that perfect souvenir. But cast away on some of the farthest beaches of Goa, chances of finding anything authentic were remote. Ignoring the garish sarongs and scarves, faux-pashmina and semi-precious stones, Rajasthani cholis and rows of reeking leather hats and boots, I picked up a bottle of the local San André chocolate liqueur in Margao, on my way to the airport. Goa and Sikkim, I had been told, shared the rare distinction of producing the only Indian liqueurs. So in a liquor shop, run entirely by women, I chose chocolate over elaichi, paan and crème de menthe, much to the salesgirl’s disappointment. But one swig at breakfast this morning, and I knew it was Rs 175 well spent.