Khabzeys and Jero, made to order

The Khabzey Kitchen in Daragaon and the Jero stall at Sajong

Khabzey and Jero are traditional snacks of the hill communities, especially popular among the Buddhists and looked forward to during festivals like Losoong, Namsoong, Tamu Lochar and the approaching Loasar festivities. Of course, these treats are also laid out during special occasions like weddings, and have now become popular among other communities as well.
In earlier times, family members would gather to prepare these food items especially whenever the occasion demanded. Apart from cutting down on the time and effort required to prepare these items, it also served as an opportunity for the family to come together. This practice is however fast disappearing, but the Khabzey and Jero survive and in fact have gained popularity with commercial small scale production taking over.