Food Culture in India – What to Know Before You Travel
India is a cradle of culture and tradition, and one of the most rewarding destinations for travellers to visit. India’s influence has been felt globally, and is instrumental in the development of modern British culture – with British-Indian fusion dishes now weekly staples. Of course, there is little substitute for a delicious thali and fresh flatbread from the heartland itself. You may be chomping at the bit to visit, if only for the food – but what do you need to know about India’s food culture?
Travel in India
India is easy to speak of in the singular, but is a country that contains multitudes. Besides, there are those that make the mistake of eliding the cultures and traditions of neighbouring nations and parts of the Indian subcontinent, Pakistan and Bangladesh, with the country of India – countries that have seen significant change since the Partition.
Tours to India take in much more than one location for good reason; India is a country of regions. Each region offers up its own unique identity and culture, and opportunities for travellers to experience something profound.
This is especially true when it comes to food, with each corner of India bringing its own signature dishes and cooking styles. Northern India gave birth to the Tandoor oven, and hence a rich well of tandoori dishes with which many Brits are familiar. Southern India, meanwhile, is responsible for the popularity of dosas and vadas, alongside light and fragrant curries both soup-like and dry. But what of the culture around the food? What can you expect as you travel the country?
Hands-On Eating
Perhaps the most well-known of differences between Indian eating culture and Western culture relates to the presence – or absence – of cutlery at the dinner table. Save for some cultural differences in the north of India, food is eaten pretty much entirely by hand. Breads are used to scoop up curries, while rice is balled-up with certain dishes to be eaten in a bite-sized manner. This, like many customs across the country, has its roots in Ayurvedic teachings.
Plating Conventions
Similar things could also be said of crockery, particularly in the south; plates are often nowhere to be found, with banana leaf traditionally used as a receptacle for foodstuffs. However, the south also originated the ‘thali’, or platter of small dishes, selected to form a balanced representation of the ‘shadrasa’, or six core flavours.
Eating Etiquette
Across India, eating etiquette is influenced by Hindu teachings; one standout teaching is ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, which translates in English to ‘the guest is God’. Personal hospitality is taken extremely seriously in this regard, and invitations to dine a sincerely held mark of respect.
We’ve already made mention of eating with the hands, but here – in the company of hosts – it is important to make something clear. You should only ever use your right hand to eat; the left hand is culturally and traditionally regarded as dirty. This aside, the act of eating in company is a highly enjoyable, low-stakes social occasion.
