Indian cuisine

Indian cuisine is one of the oldest, the richest and the most diverse cuisines in the world. An Indian meal usually consists of snacks, for example salads, then main course, pastas and bakery called chapati, which is eaten with vegetables and rice. From the Indian point of view food is considered the gods' present to the humanity. That's why the process of preparation requires attention and respect. Traditionally food is prepared in a special earthen oven. Spices are added not only to the numerous meals and sweets but also to drinks. In traditional Indian restaurants food is served in special dishes made from dried-out leaves, and tea is served in special pottery jars which are then disposed of. Traditional Indian food is eaten using fingers, with the right hand breaking off pieces of chapati and putting rice with vegetables or meat on it. Indians do not drink alcohol at mealtimes, they use water with ice or yoghurt instead.

Even though the Indian cuisine is famous for its vegetarian means, even the most demanding meat-eater will be greatly satisfied. If you're used to the European ways of serving and eating food you will be surprised if you come to India – everything's different here: the exterior appearance of food, the way of serving and eating it, not to mention the taste and the flavour of the numerous kinds of spices of the traditional Indian cuisine. Among the numerous spices used for preparing meals the following are the most widely used: caraway, coriander, curcuma, cardamom, red and green chilli, and many others.