9 Interesting Facts about Indian Food That You Might Not Know

Who does not love to talk about good food? We all love it. When it comes to world cuisines, very little is talked about India food and it is disheartening as there is a wide range of food dishes and varieties Indian food offers which can satisfy the appetites of all types of taste buds. There is a possibility that you might end up buying Indian grocery after reading this article as we will discuss in-length about some interesting facts about Indian foods and cuisines. Let me tell you, it will be a roller coaster ride certainly. 

Let’s dive then! 

India Is Called the Land of Spices and For Right Reasons

It is true and certainly not an overstatement. No countries produce spices more than Indian. If you check a bag of Indian grocery, half of it would be containing various Indian spices such as turmeric, cumin seeds, coriander leaves and seeds, cardamom, Fenugreek leaves and seeds and others. Due to some unparalleled health benefits and medicinal properties, these Indian spices are highly used in Indian food. 

Six Different Tastes 

You must have seen at least a single foreigner who lets down Indian food by calling it very spicy. Well, it is not the case at all. As per the food theory, all Indian foods are primarily made of six different tastes- sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter and astringent. You will not find any other types of food in any corner of the world with such a great taste variety. It makes Indian food in some way, unique and distinctive. Don’t you want to jump from your sofa and buy online Indian grocery now?

External Influences 

Well, all Indian foods are not originated from India only. There are many popular Indian dishes which came from other cultures and countries. Indian was a trade hub for centuries and people from different cultures and nations came here for trade and obviously, they have made food influences here. Some of the contributors to Indian food are Persians, Arabs, Mediterranean and central Asians. You will be flabbergasted to know that jalebis (a sweet dessert) and samosa (a deep-fried spicy snack) are actually imports. 

Land of Hottest Chillies 

Yes, there is a reason why Indian food is spicy and at the same time, delicious. It is because India is the land of one of the hottest chillies called ghost pepper which is 400 times hotter than Tabasco sauce. It is produced in the Indian states such as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland and the Guinness book of world records has certified this chilli as the hottest chillies in the world. 

Salt and Pepper History 

Indians have been producing salt for more than 5000 years and this is authentic information. In the Rann of Kutch, the western part of Gujarat state, salt had been produced. 

Furthermore, the black pepper, a widely used Indian spice is known to be found during 2000 BC. It is said that Kerala, a southern state of India, used to export peppers in ancient times and was a valuable commodity at that point of time. 

Lowest Meat Consumption per Person 

Yes, when it comes to food choices, Indians are known for vegetable food habits. A meat consumption ratio per person is very low in India. 30 to 40% of Indians follow a strict vegetarian diet and let me tell you, it is not a small number in a country with a population of 1.32 billion. 

India’s Portuguese Connection 

How would you react if you come to know that popular Indian staple ingredients such as tomato, potatoes and chillies originally come from Portugal? When Portuguese came to India for trading purposes, they brought these staples which now have become an inseparable part of the Indian culture. 

A History of Dum Pulao and Dum Biryani 

If you are an Indian food lover, you must have tasted delicious dum Pulao or dum biryani. There is a history behind this appetizing dish. There was a time when the Nawab of Awadh had food supply issues and hence, he ordered the cooks to make a meal for all the poor in a big utensil called Handi. The main objective was to prepare a good quantity of food with minimum resources, which, later on, became one of the most preferred Indian dishes of all times. 

Three types of Indian food

The ancient Indian Ayurveda classifies Indian foods into three categories

Saatvic (raw and fresh fruits and vegetables) foods are good for overall health and positive mind. 

Raajsic (Oily and spicy food) foods which are the foundation of motion and activities. 

Taamsic (Meat and liquor) food items bring negative feelings and emotions and should be avoided. 

Conclusion:

These are some of the facts related to Indian food. Indian food cuisines are cherished across the globe and wherever Indians settle in other countries, they take their culture and food dishes there too. Are you excited enough to buy online Indian grocery now? Open a new tab and order your Indian grocery items now.