we love Indian cuisine and we know you love it, too. To spice it up, we decided to create a list of interesting and entertaining facts about India and Indian cuisine that not many people know.
1. India is called the Land of Spices. This comes as no surprise since India produces the widest variety of spices in the world, 70% to be exact.
2. Some of the traditional Indian cuisine spices do not originate from India. Saffron for example was brought by Greek, Arab and Roman traders who introduced new tastes in the dishes.
3. Not only spices, but also ingredients often used in Indian cuisine were brought by traders. Potatoes, tomatoes and even chilli came from Portugal and became a key part of the Indian cuisine and culture.
4. Before sugar was brought to India by Portuguese traders, honey and fruits were used in Indian food to give a sweet taste to the dishes.
5. The Chicken Tikka Masala was not invented in India, despite the fact it is one of the most popular and well-known Indian dishes. Surprisingly it originated in Glasgow, Scotland.
6. According to the Indian Food Theory, the Indian cuisine contains six different tastes: salty, bitter, sour, sweet, spicy and astringent. An Indian meal is properly made if it contains all six flavours in a delicate balance, with one or two that stand out.
7. Mithais are an essential part of Indian celebrations and cuisine. One of the most popular sweet dishes in South India, Payasam, is usually served a ceremonies and weddings. According to the tradition, a wedding celebration is not over until Payasam is served to the guests. However, every state of India will have different tradition and different celebration rituals.
8. Some cooking traditions have been strongly affected by Central Asia. The Traditional Kashmiri cooking, Wazwan, for example, uses a unique techniques in which spices are boiled, instead of fired. This gives the dishes exceptional flavour and aroma.
9. Pepper is one of the most commonly used spices in Indian cuisine, as it goes well with everything. One great mixture is the simple combination of pepper and salt that is commonly used.
10. India has the lowest meat consumption in the world per person, which does not come as a surprise since 40% of the population is vegetarian.
11. According to the Indian food system, food can be classified into three categories. Saatvic (fresh juice and vegetables) is believed to lead to higher state of consciousness. Raajsic (spicy and oily food) is in the core of motion and activity. Taamsic (Liquor and meat) is the food that brings out all negative feelings.
source: koolba
1. India is called the Land of Spices. This comes as no surprise since India produces the widest variety of spices in the world, 70% to be exact.
2. Some of the traditional Indian cuisine spices do not originate from India. Saffron for example was brought by Greek, Arab and Roman traders who introduced new tastes in the dishes.
3. Not only spices, but also ingredients often used in Indian cuisine were brought by traders. Potatoes, tomatoes and even chilli came from Portugal and became a key part of the Indian cuisine and culture.
4. Before sugar was brought to India by Portuguese traders, honey and fruits were used in Indian food to give a sweet taste to the dishes.
5. The Chicken Tikka Masala was not invented in India, despite the fact it is one of the most popular and well-known Indian dishes. Surprisingly it originated in Glasgow, Scotland.
6. According to the Indian Food Theory, the Indian cuisine contains six different tastes: salty, bitter, sour, sweet, spicy and astringent. An Indian meal is properly made if it contains all six flavours in a delicate balance, with one or two that stand out.
7. Mithais are an essential part of Indian celebrations and cuisine. One of the most popular sweet dishes in South India, Payasam, is usually served a ceremonies and weddings. According to the tradition, a wedding celebration is not over until Payasam is served to the guests. However, every state of India will have different tradition and different celebration rituals.
8. Some cooking traditions have been strongly affected by Central Asia. The Traditional Kashmiri cooking, Wazwan, for example, uses a unique techniques in which spices are boiled, instead of fired. This gives the dishes exceptional flavour and aroma.
9. Pepper is one of the most commonly used spices in Indian cuisine, as it goes well with everything. One great mixture is the simple combination of pepper and salt that is commonly used.
10. India has the lowest meat consumption in the world per person, which does not come as a surprise since 40% of the population is vegetarian.
11. According to the Indian food system, food can be classified into three categories. Saatvic (fresh juice and vegetables) is believed to lead to higher state of consciousness. Raajsic (spicy and oily food) is in the core of motion and activity. Taamsic (Liquor and meat) is the food that brings out all negative feelings.
source: koolba
