15 Interesting Facts about Indian Food
India is a land of culture, traditions, most tasteful spices, and of course food. These are sure facts you may not know about Indian food. So, here are some interesting facts about the Indian Food culture.
1. Diverse culture and food from different Indian regions:
The Indian Subcontinent has a number of diversity in languages along regions, and with different regions, the food and the culture are also variant and vibrant. Preparing a mere tea also differs from place to place in India.
2. Ayurveda Value in the country:
Most Indian cooks have been keen on the Ayurvedic principle that indicates that the presence of the six taste elements, namely, sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent, make the dish elevated enough to soothe your taste buds. This has encouraged the use of Ayurveda in most Indian Food preparations and the regular use of healthy Indian spices.
3. Indian Spices help with bodily functions:
In every Indian household, you will be able to experience a regular use of Indian Spices like Turmeric, Chili Powder, Coriander, Cumin, Cardamom, Clove, Cinnamon, Black Mustard Seeds, and Cayenne Pepper. This also adds flavor to the dish as well as gives it a health enhancement factor in them. The properties of these Indian spices are known to aid a person’s bodily functions.
4. India is the greatest exporter of spices:
With the Indian Subcontinent focusing mostly on producing more and more spices to get the most of them, it is not a shock that it is the largest producer and exporter of spice and spice items. In the years 2020 and 2021, India kept its uptrend and exported spices worth US$4.18Billion, which is a 34% increase from the previous 2019 and 2020 years. It is no wonder that Indians know the proper worth of using and also spreading its valuable use to the whole world.
5. Every Indian Cook’s reputation depends on their special blends:
An excellent curry with a mixture of the rightly measured and prepared spices is a good way to be known by the people. The Indian Chef do just that. They depend greatly on their special blends and ways of cooking which makes it possible for them to be renowned worldwide.
6. India is Home to some of the Hottest chilies:
We already are aware that India serves many hot chilies included in their dish. One of the Hottest Chilies, Bhoot Jolokia which literally means ‘ghost chili’, calls India it’s home. It is also known to house hot chilies like Kashmiri Mirch (Kashmiri Chili), Guntur Chili; which India is also a major producer and exporter, Jwala Chili; which is easily available all over India, Byadagi Chili is another pungent and bright-colored Indian chili, Ramnad Mundu or Gundu, which is must for preparing Chettinad cuisines, and of course – A chili best known for its strong pungent smell, heat and its bright red color, Dhani.
7. The Indian Kashmiri Saffron is the most costly spice from India:
The Indian Kashmiri Saffron is known for its intricate, immense flavor. The Indian saffron is said to have been a privileged essential for many dishes all around the world. It is also the most renowned spice. It rejuvenates health and also has many medicinal properties to it. Saffron also is the cultural heritage of its cultured packed region.
8. There is more than Gulab Jamun – A variety of Indian Sweets:
There is a huge range of variety when it comes to Indian sweets. The deserts are soul food which is definitely a good way to end a meal. In India, you can get almost 200 types of Indian Sweets available in the market as opposed to the only popular Indian Sweet – Gulab Jamun.
9. A number of Rice options:
India is also known for exporting its Rice crops. India is a major producer of White, red, brown, sticky, and even black rice. Black Rice is only found in India and China, which makes it one of the major exporters and makes it possible to bring home a good hefty sum.
10. Bandel cheese production:
Bendel is a territory of the Indian subcontinent that contributes to the production of Bandel Cheese, a small town in the territory of West Bengal, India. Bandel Cheese is an Asian Cheese that originated in the Portuguese colony, made by the Mog or Burmese under their supervision. This Cheese is still prevalent in the Anglo-Indian communities till date.
11. The Belief in Eating healthy to cure oneself:
Indian culinary before it turned into an art, involved the expertise of the Indian Chefs who studied the Rasas, Doshas, Vedas, and Puranas. The early Indians believed in the natural cure of oneself with the help of healthy Indian food and spices that target the specific area with whatever food deficiency it faced. In Sanskrit, the Rasa is defined as the ‘Ras’ or essence of anything or anyone. This is the Indian Culinary transforms into ‘Taste’. The Taste of the Rasa is said to guide the people to judge their doshas which helps them keep their health in check.
12. Samosas were meaty Middle Eastern dishes:
The Indian Snack Samosa is said to have originated from their meatier cousin, Sambosa when Middle Eastern people came to India. As opposed to their meatier versions, Samosas are made with potatoes and some other vegetables, making them vegetarian. Even Vegans can enjoy this Indian Snack.
13. Coffee was an alien concept to the Indians:
Coffee didn’t appear in India till the 16th century, and they have thus, enjoyed different kinds of tea in various different ways that are sure to give a good amount of energy boost as well as good for the body. It was the British who actually popularized Coffee in India.
14. Indian food is classified into 3 different categories:
Indian food is divided into 3 categories, namely Sattvic food which leads a person to achieve higher states of consciousness, Raastic food which provides a foundation for activity and spiced food and lastly, the Taasmic which brings out the negative feelings out from oneself.
15. Not every Indian chooses to be Vegetarian:
Every Indian enjoys the different vegetarian dishes available in the Indian Sub-Continent. People in India not only love to eat vegetarian food options but also majorly enjoy non-vegetarian dishes. Sometimes even more than the vegetarian ones! In India, there are region-based delicious Indian Non-vegetarian delicacies enjoyed by a huge populous.
