What is Jihvā ?
Jihvā, the Sanskrit word means taste, desire and deep longing. This powerful word also represents tongue and taste buds.
What is Jihvā for Ingredients?
I believe for Jihvā to happen, it’s all in the ingredients and how they are cooked. Jihvā for Ingredients (JFI) is online monthly food event, celebrating the Ingredients and what they can do for our Jeeva.
When, what and how?
The host will choose a food ingredient. To participate, cook a recipe with that ingredient and post it on your blog on the first of the month. Send these entries to the host, she/he will do the roundup and showcase all your entries within a week of receiving.
What are the guidelines to host?
1. Feature any natural ingredient and there are many.
2. I’d greatly appreciate if you could pick an ingredient related to India or Indian cuisine. (Which style of cuisine that ingredient prepared is, ofcourse it’s upto the participants).
3. Announce the event on your blog by first week of previous month. This will give plenty of time for the participants to shop, prepare, write and post their entry.
May Pedatha: Love Lovely Tribute Jihva |
September Monsoon Spice: Soya JFI:Soy Roundup |
January Ammalu’s Kitchen:Sprouts Sprouts Roundup |
June My Creative Ideas: Bell Peppers Bell Pepper Fireworks |
October Tasty Palettes:Whole Grains Whole Grains Roundup |
February Sometime Foodie:Chickpeas JFI:Chickpea Roundup |
July Live to Eat:Tamarind JFI: Tamarind Roundup |
November CfAS:Festival Treats JFI: Festival Treats Roundup |
March Paajaka:Cauliflower Cauliflower Roundup |
August Soul Food:Flowers Flower Power Jihva |
December The Cooker:Carrots JFI:Carrots Roundup |
April Roma’s Space:Wheat JFI:Wheat Roundup |
A Tribute to Jihva Hosts 2007!
Jihva, the online food blogging event completed two years this April.
Each month a natural, wholesome ingredient was selected and featured, and during last year over a span of 12 months, a total of about 1500 entries and recipes flew in from across the world. The year started with Green leafy vegetables and moved on to Jackfruit, Brinjal, Mirchi, Rice, Banana, Diwali Treats, Toor Dal, Cocoa/Chocolate, Onions, Lemons/Limes and ended with Garlic goodness.
My sincere thanks to the Jihva hosts
Bee&Jai, Sangeeta, Nandita, Sharmi, Mandira, Vee, Linda, Deepz, Radhika, Coffee and Mathy Kandasamy. And, to all the participants for investing their effort and energy to create such wonderful cookery resource through JihvÄÂ.
Great job and congratulations!
May 1st Mahanandi:Mangoes JFI:Mango Recap |
September 1st Vineela’s Cuisine:Milk JFI:Milk Recap |
January 1st Food for Thought:Coconut JFI:Coconut Recap |
June 1st Baking Fairy:Strawberries JFI:Strawberries Recap |
October 1st Cooking Medley:Ghee JFI:Ghee Recap |
February 1st WTRT Jim?:Ginger JFI:Ginger Recap |
July 1st Sailu’s Food : Dals JFI:Dal Recap |
Vee:Special Edition JFI:Diwali Treats |
March 1st Happy Burp:Potato JFI:Potato Recap |
August 1st Me&My Kitchen:Flour JFI:Flours Recap |
December 1st Better Tomorrow:Jaggery JFI:Jaggery Recap |
April 1st My Work Shop:Tomatoes JFI:Tomatoes Recap |
Original announcement – here.
May 1st, 2007 marks the completion of one year of Jihvā for Ingredients (JFI) , the food blogging event that showcases a food ingredient each month. This event was born out of my desire to celebrate natural ingredients and what they can do for our Jihvā.
From a nervous, tentative beginning, JFI evolved into a confident, inspiring event that captured the hearts and minds of many food lovers. Some of them went from being onlookers and supporters to active participants. Visitors to the event roundups started their own food blogs because they wanted to participate in Jihvā. Such is the attraction of Jihvā. Each month a natural, wholesome ingredient was selected and featured, and over a span of 12 months, a total of about 800 entries and recipes flew in from across the world.
Before beginning another Jihvā year on May 1st, I wanted to pay tribute to the gracious hosts of Jihvā and their ingredients. When I contacted them, they generously opened their hearts and shared their thoughts. From ingredient selection, invitation, fellow bloggers’ response to the time and effort expended in the process, here is the Jihvā experience.
Sailaja of Sailu’s Food, the host of JFI: Dals :
“Jihva to me denotes – food, fun and a culinary learning experience. Each round up is like a well laid out feast with gorgeous pictures, that touch upon food and diverse cultures of our country and the lesser known recipes are highlighted, adding that extra zing to each entry. Living in a country with such diverse cultures, we are hardly aware of the different regional cuisines our country offers. Throughout the length and breadth of the country, rice and lentils are our staple. I chose our beloved nutritious dal as an ingredient to showcase to the world the range of dal dishes our regional cuisines have to offer and also to learn more about the lesser known dal recipes. There are gems out there. And I love dal!
It took me about 3-4 days or 22-24 hours to actually put it all together, right from receiving the entries, compile a list, read each post and get it all together. It was worth all the effort because it our cuisine we are showcasing to the world, we want to present it well so that they understand the rich and diverse culinary heritage of our country and the importance we Indians give to our daily food.
Last but not the least, the utter passion of each blogger and how they all look forward to the final round-up further motivated me and not to mention their genuine warmth, overwhelming encouraging and appreciative response. I always look forward to the next ingredient with each host trying their best to enhance the flavor of Jihva manifold with sincerity and there is a high expectation and anticipation each month as Jihva unfolds with a new ingredient.”
Santhi of Me and My Kitchen, the Host of JFI-Flours:
“The variety of flours used in Indian cooking are so very many and such a huge variety of culinary possibilities with it. And I was not at all disappointed with the out come. Some fantastic and innovative recipes were send in. I had in my mind that I will have two round ups one for sweets and one for savory. I created two folders and sorted the entries as soon as I receive them so that I could keep track of all the entries. I will be honest. It is not very easy to do a round up. My admiration for hosts who do it week after week and month after month has increased tremendously after doing it. But Let me tell you that with all the visual delights every single minute has been most enjoyable. It was just so incredible to see so many fellow bloggers being passionate about food. And the enthusiasm you all have shown has been fantastic. And that is what is bringing me back into blogging world. One incident I have to tell you. When I did not receive an entry from Vaishali of Happy Burp, I was disappointed and so demanded an entry from her. And she responded immediately with an entry! That’s the kind of bond that I have shared with some of you out there. It has been a great pleasure to host this event. Thank to everyone involved with JFI in anyway. This success is a result of everyone out here in food blogosphere.”
Vee of Past Present and Me, the Host of JFI – Special Diwali Edition:
“I loved hosting the Diwali Special. It made my Diwali even more exciting than it already was. It was fun going to all blogs and seeing what they were cooking up and their memories and anecdotes and nostalgia about past Diwali’s. It is what a festival is about, isn’t it? Traditions and memories we grow up with. It was also so much like a virtual diwali meet and greet and exchanging new year wishes. I really got attached to that feeling that it generated. Which is why I opted to host it every year. Thanks for the oppurtunity. Until next time, take care.”
Kay of Towards a Better Tomorrow, the Host of JFI:Jaggery:
“When I first read about JFI – The idea of Jihva and celebration of those ingredients and their Indian flavors sounded wonderful. Little did I know it will do so much more to me.
As I mentioned in my blog, December is my favorite month for many reasons and I thought I’ll be ready to blog again, by December, after some post-partum recovery. I wanted to choose something very very Indian and very very authentic. Jaggery and Coconut tied till the final round and the queen of all sweeteners – Jaggery won! I also wanted to make it more special and requested participants to try out something new – either a dish they had eaten/read or even concoct some new dishes. This was just that – a request! A purely optional one. But wow! When I saw the entries pouring in and saw those new dishes, I felt so overwhelmed. People did try some new stuff and Some had ‘created’ new dishes! I felt so overwhelmed. Thank you guys, for paying heed to my whimsical request and creating some lovely stuff.
Kiran, a lovely nonblogger, sent in her post by mail and what did I find? Methi kheer! Something for a new mom, to help with lactation! How sweet of her to do that? And Lakshmi Ammal had written about ‘sweet fenugreek pongal’ for nursing moms. I was touched by these gestures. As fate would have it, My mom couldn’t come to Canada to be with me during the childbirth and recovery. I was missing her ever since I got pregnant and even more, after childbirth, this added to the stress and postpartum blues. Let’s say, I was longing for some motherly comfort… And these people whom I had never met, never exchanged emails with, cared and made something for me. Bless their heart! It was a very emotional moment for me. Thanks Kiran and Lakshmiammal. Puja of Creative Pooja had to type out her post, in one hand, on time, because the other hand was beautifully decorated with Mehendi.:) How sweet of her and how punctual of her! And now, I’ve learnt so much more about jaggery and a few other types of jaggeries and I’ve got tons of new dishes to try out – All with my favorite ingredient on earth. Ain’t that sweet? (Pun intended!):)
About hosting and writing the round up, it didn’t really take much time. After posting the roundup, I sent an email thanking every participant and letting them know about the roundup. Boy! I got some sweet responses to that mail. People are wonderful. What did hosting JFI do to me? After hosting the event, I feel like doing many more in the future and yes, participating in many other events. But the most important thing is, It has brought a sense of ‘belonging to a community’ in me. After studying in many schools and many colleges and worked and lived in many places, I never felt I ‘belonged’ anywhere. But after hosting this event, I feel like I belong here – with my blog friends, where I can truly be myself.”
RP of My Workshop, the Host of JFI:Tomatoes:
“I really had a hard time picking one ingredient. I wanted to choose something that is used in all cuisines. I wanted to make it easy for the participants. So I picked tomatoes, something that is essential in every kitchen. It was easier than I thought even though I got a little nervous before publishing the roundup. Special thanks to Shn of Mishmash, Mallugirl of Malabar Spices, and kitchen fairy of Secret of Taste for supporting me when I needed it. Many have congratulated me for the hard work. I got a couple of how-did-you-do-it mails. To be frank, it wasn’t difficult at all. I used batch processing which made things easy. Adding the caption, of course, had to be done individually. I spent like 10-15 minutes everyday and the roundup was ready in a week. I was so thrilled and wanted to finish it in one sitting, but I didn’t want anyone in my home to suffer because I was busy with the roundup. About the generous response from fellow bloggers – Delighted! I have never received so many mails that are not junk.:) Entries started flowing in since mid March, and everyday I got more and more excited. Sometimes I thought I was getting lost in the middle of so many entries, but I picked up in no time. I received more than 100 entries. I am so happy and I thank everybody again for making it possible.”
Baking Fairy, the host of JFI-Strawberries sent her wishes from Costa Rica. She moved to Costa Rica from SF and opened her own bakery there. She wrote “I bought a small bakery and runnning my own place. I have breakfast and lunch items, most “Indian” base recipes because I love them so much. Hope you will come to visit one day. It is really a great place…Very peaceful…”.
Rosie of What’s the Recipe Today Jim?, currently vacationing in Mexico sent her thanks and wishes to all the participants.
My sincere thanks to Baking Fairy, Sailaja, Santhi, Vineela, Love 2 Cook, Vee, Kay, Ashwini, Rosie, Vaishali and RP for laying the foundation of Jihva tradition.
My heartfelt thanks to all the participants and fellow bloggers who embraced this event to make it their own, and opened up their families’ culinary heirlooms and treasures with such selflessness. Preserving food traditions is critical in these days of globalization and I hope that together we contributed to this effort through Jihvā.
Here are the stars of Jihvā: 2006. May they be part of our culinary traditions forever!
Jihvā: Mango
Jihvā: Strawberries
Jihvā: Dals
Jihvā: Flours
Jihvā: Milk
Jihvā: Ghee
Jihvā: Diwali Treats
Jihvā: Jaggery
Jihvā: Coconut
Jihvā: Ginger
Jihvā: Potato
Jihvā: Tomato
Hi Indira, just wanted to find out if we need to send you the email on May 1st as well as post it on our blog on the same day (JFI Event)..or could it be done before that?
Indira replies:
Hi Shilpi, thanks for your interest in this event.
Guidelines are:
Post the recipe in your blog – on May1st.
Send me, via email – the link and photo of the your entry/recipe on that day.
“Could it be done before that?” – yes ofcourse, but to be featured in this event, I’d greatly appreciate if you could follow the guidelines, like we all are going to do, that’s the fun event part.
Incase, it’s not possible for you to post in your blog on 1st, then please don’t hesitate to send me via email, your late or early entry. No entry will be rejected, I can promise that.
Thanks and looking forward to your participation.
Comment by Shilpi — April 26, 2006 @ 9:27 am
Indira,
couldnt find your mail id anywhere ! Want to send my entry for JFI Mangoes-
Comment by nandita — April 29, 2006 @ 8:52 am
Ok got it- probably didn’t look well enough 🙂
Comment by nandita — April 29, 2006 @ 8:53 am
Indira,
Great event and great choice of ingredient to kick off the event.
Mythili
Comment by Mythili — May 1, 2006 @ 1:02 pm
hey,
I am stuck in tokyo, where at the moment, I dont have access to palatable mangoes. I’d posted one recipe with unripe mangoes a long time back which is particular to my mom’s place in UP . Was just wondering if you’d like to include it.
thanks.
Indira replies:
Thanks for your interest in this event.
No problem, please send me the entry and photo vio emal, I’ll include it in my roundup.
Comment by bilbo — May 2, 2006 @ 9:18 am
Jihva For Mango
Non avendo un decente mango a disposizione (e decente tempo da impiegare nel buttarmi in questa impresa) non ho partecipatoJihva For Mango Scrive Indira What is Jihvā ? Jihvā, the Sanskrit word means taste, desire and deep longing. This power…
Trackback by ComidaDeMama — May 2, 2006 @ 5:40 pm
Hi Indira
I love to host JFI event for the month of April. Let me know if I can get that wonderful experience.
Comment by Lakshmiammal — October 24, 2006 @ 7:01 am
Hi Indira, I would love to host an event on my blog. Please include me for the next available month. 🙂 Thanks.
Comment by Rooma — October 29, 2006 @ 9:46 pm
Indira,
I would like to host the event for a month. Let me know my month and I will get ready.
Thanks!
Comment by Mythili — January 5, 2007 @ 8:22 am
Hi Indira!
Even I would love to host this event sometime. The problem I don see any space till April. Well, as my DOB falls in May, let me opt for May. Hope am the first for May…..aint I? Would like your reply on this, insha Allah. Take Care…bye!!
Comment by Anisha — February 12, 2007 @ 8:29 pm
Hi Indira,
I lurk around here a lot. Though Iam not an active food blogger , I couldn’t resist contributing to Jhiva. I enjoyed the experience . It was fun and satisfying! Thank you Indira for intiating this beautiful concept. 🙂
Regards….Soumya
Comment by Soumya — March 30, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
Hi Indira, I would like to host this event whenever a month is available, I’m thinking of yogurt or rice as the ingredient. let me know. Love your site, great inspiration.
Indira replies:
Hi Sheela, thanks for your interest in Jihva. I am planning to invite hosts for Jihva (June 07- April08) on April 2nd. If you are still interested, visit the post on that day and pickup your time slot. Yogurt and rice make great Jihva ingredients, I agree.
Thanks.
Comment by sheela — March 31, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
Hi Indira,
After visiting Mahanandi, I have now stared my own food blog. Though I haven’t put many recipes up yet, I have many planned and pictured! I would be thrilled to join u in a Jihva. Whenever you say…
I would like to plump for potatoes or raw mango, if that is possible.
Comment by DesiGirl — April 1, 2007 @ 10:49 am
I can see that both mangoes and potatoes have had their day. How about lentils? If I can host it around Sept/Oct, then we can use that time to take inspiration from navrathri and make different type of Sundals.
Comment by DesiGirl — April 1, 2007 @ 10:51 am
HI!
What a treasure of a site! I love it.
Would you be able to guide me to a particular spice that one adds (it’s some sort of lemon or lime) dried and shrivled that one adds to curries? It was given to me by a Sri Lankan woman I met whose cooking I enjoyed. She did not know the name of it. How can I identify this “spice” or delicious addition to my cooking? I have only 3 left! Guess I can take a picture and send it to you?
MANY thanks!
Hi Annelliesse,
A photo definitely helps to identiy the spice. If you have an account at flickr or photobucket etc, post the photo of the spice and forward me the link. Let’s see if we can solve the spice mystery.:)
– Indira
Comment by Annelliesse — September 6, 2007 @ 11:07 am
great site…keep it going
Comment by Easycrafts — September 10, 2007 @ 2:13 am
hi indira,
i know there is a huge line up of all the creative people who want to host this event ,it definitely would be an honour if you could consider me too. your site is simply awesome
bindiya
inlovewithfood.blogspot.com
Comment by bindiya — September 10, 2007 @ 11:03 pm
Hats down to your innovative idea and congratulations on making it a big success…
I see that u have already alloted this year to diffrent bloggers for JFI…
I was wondering if i can host JFI for Post X’mas treats…
Please let me know…
Once again congrats on this great venture..
Simi Mathew
Comment by Simi Mathew — September 13, 2007 @ 9:16 am
Hi…
Great work … I blog a bit but never on recipes.. but after having gone thro quite a few blogs for a recipe today, will start blogging my recipes too….
Comment by Nitya — December 24, 2007 @ 3:08 am
Hi Indira
I am new to blogging as well. Would like to participate in the JFI events. How do I go about it. Would you inform me as to when my turn will be?
Thanks and Looking forward to your reply
Archana
Comment by Archana — January 3, 2008 @ 1:56 am
Hi Indira,
I have been visiting your blog since a few months. Your Kittaya is so good looking and it is very nice of you to have adopted him. Great!!!
I just wanted to remind you that the Jihva Diwali snapshot is missing. I did not like something missing there among all the awesome photos.
Can you tell me how I can participate in the Jihva
Thanks
Manasa
Comment by Manasa Daggubati — February 26, 2008 @ 5:28 pm
Hi Indira,
I would like to host a JFI event for some month in 2008. Let me know how to get in touch with you about that!
Thanks,
Comment by LadyMcbeth — March 6, 2008 @ 11:43 am
Dear Indira, I would be interested to host a JFI event during 2008, kindly decide and let me know the details. Any month is fine with me
regards
srivalli.
Hi Srivalli, the announcement for hosts will be on April 3rd. Please check on that day and reserve a month of your choice to host. Thanks for your interest.
-Indira
Comment by Srivalli — March 21, 2008 @ 10:45 pm
indira,
i am interested in hosting JFI in 2008. will you be making any annoucement about it? will eagerly wait for your announcement 🙂
Hi Sia,
Thank you for your interest. Yes, that announcement will be on April 3rd. Please check on that day and reserve a month of your choice. Thanks.:)
-Indira
Comment by sia — March 28, 2008 @ 7:08 am
Dear Indira,
I’m also interested in hosting JFI. Can I reserve a month in 2009 now itself? Or do I need to wait until your next announcement? Thank you.
Comment by Madhuram — June 3, 2008 @ 11:15 am
Sorry to bother Indira, just now I saw the above comments and your reply. So I think you will be announcing on April 3rd of 2009, I’ll reserve it then. Thank you.
Comment by Madhuram — June 6, 2008 @ 8:20 am
Hi Indira,
I too would like to host JFI but as Madhuram said will wait for the announcement…Thanks
Comment by Padmajha Suresh — February 9, 2009 @ 5:49 am
Dear Indira,
I am interested in hosting JFI in 2009. Please put me in your list and allot me a month suitable to you and other hosts who have already got in touch with you regarding this. Since in April, I will be away, I am putting my request now itself. Will surely try to see the announcement, but if not please put me in the list, in whichever month suitable to you. Thank you.
Comment by Lakshmi Venkatesh — March 2, 2009 @ 5:41 am
Hello Indira,
When will you be announcing Jihva 2009 and inviting hosts for it – I thought it would happen around this time this year too…
Miri
Monday (April 6th) afternoon between 1 and 4 PM. Thanks for your interest in Jihva.
-Indira
Comment by Miri — April 4, 2009 @ 11:25 am
Hi Indira,
Is there any Jihva 2009-2010 happening? Who is hosting them??
Keep me posted with the same!!
Thanks in advance
Cheers
Sandhya
Comment by Sandhya — September 15, 2009 @ 12:12 pm
indira
pls let me know about JIHVA for the next few months
thanx
k
Comment by kavita — October 14, 2009 @ 5:33 pm
Hai Indira. I would like to host the Jihva event. please let me know if its possible
Comment by Niloufer riyaz — April 30, 2010 @ 3:32 pm
Hi Indira,
I got into cooking last year.. after i got married.. and along with my mum.. your blog has been my guide..
now i am confident cook.. thanks to you.. 🙂
And i enjoy cooking! Which amazes my mom.. who pleaded me a million times to learn cooking before the wedding.. and i refused to enter the kitchen! 🙂
I was wondering if JFI events are held anymore.. Coz the last entry i saw was that of April 2010.
Take care,
Akhila
Comment by Akhila — October 30, 2010 @ 11:12 pm
Hi Indira. JFI used to be our favourite event. but dont see it anymore. please revive the dormant series. I would love to host it if you need hosts for this.
Comment by sayantani — September 7, 2011 @ 12:51 am
Hi Indira,
I just stumbled upon this while surfing the net. This sounds really interesting. Is JFI still happening? If it is then please let me know how to send an entry or host JFI.
Comment by Anisha — December 21, 2011 @ 4:06 am