The Lewd Story Behind Indian Spices in Britain During the British Regime
Once upon a time, the world came to India – the country of spices & everything nice – for its needs in spice. Here come the British who were bent on overcoming all barriers including the mediocre food they ate. This is the history of how Indian masala in the British era made changes in the British lifestyle in terms of the Indian masalas.
The British Invasion: Bland Introduction..
It is often said that when the British first came to India they were that type of friend who famously says that ‘’ salt is very spicy.’’. It would be most accurate if I told you that their food was anything but boring. Even their worst enemy cannot imagine what they were going to face. India was a storehouse of spices, where each spice when added to the dish gave the food a new fantastic taste.
Spice, Spice Baby: The Introduction to Masalas, it would be derelict of me to not include this Culinary destination on this list.
Britain knew about Indian masalas soon enough. These mysterious potions of spices had names such as garam masala, curry powder, and chat masala. Indeed, each blend was a combination of sweet and savoury that was not only making their taste buds dance but also leaving their stomachs satisfied.
These masalas mesmerized them so much that without a second thought they bought some for home to bring out. Little did they know that they were signing up for the first step to a revolution— a revolution of flavors.
Curry Mania: Obsession with the British..
Curry expanded to become a fad eating style in Britain. As British folks attempted to enjoy similar food as what they experienced out in India itself, they were subject to very poor imitations. One can easily think of a British cook mixing up cumin with coriander and trying very hard to differentiate between the two.
Nevertheless, after some time, they mastered it and several curry houses began appearing in different regions of the United Kingdom. The Brits had officially fallen in love with the spice of life, and Indian food for that matter.
The Masala Melting Pot..
The British did not merely extract Indian spices to their home, but they also did accompany them with their own modifications. This brought to fusion of foods that were not so interrelated in earlier days.
For instance, kedgeree, originally a British-India hybrid, got incorporated into the breakfast meal. Thus it could be described as a true love child of Indian spices and British flavours and it was yummy!
A Lasting Legacy
Today, many people are aware of the effects that Indian masalas were able to exert on British food. However, through some For example chicken tikka masala has been described as the national dish of the UK or the numerous curry shops across the UK streets the legacy of that spicy moment is evident. Indian masalas did not only add new flavors to the British food, but also added the element of warmth and vibrancy in their otherwise bland and dull kitchen.
And that, my friend, the Saucy Tale of Indian Masalas in the British Era is the tale of how an exotic selection of spices came to be known as Indian masalas and found its place on British dinner tables. Spice on!