India's Geography

• Some key geographical factors are:• Himalayan Mountains:• Extends along the entire boundary of India• Covers 5 states in India

– Divided by mountain ranges and not states – There are ten different mountain ranges

• Western Ghats:• It is a mountain range that runs along the western coast of India • Known for being Bio diverse

Eastern Ghats:• Mountains that run along the eastern coast of India • The Eastern Ghats are lower than the western Ghats • good soil due to heavy rain fall

Thar Desert• Located northwest

– Near Pakistan• Sandy dunes • Steppe rock forms

Deccan Plateau• Located in central India • In between the Eastern and western Ghats • Has several rivers that run through the Deccan

plateau

• Several bodies of water surround India

India's Climate

Typical food guide culture of India

Cooking Methods

• Service types– Smaller portions but many more portions– Known for hospitality

• ‘Atithi Devo Brava’– 3 famous words from Sanskrit literature

• Not a set ‘National Cuisine’ – Matters what area host’s ancestors came from

• Some parts don’t even eat rice– Not south and eastern India

• South eats lots of green spices – These cannot be stored

– Learn to cook from experimentation mainly

Traditional Flavors

• meal spices and herbs– Pepper is considered “King of spices”

• Grows on a tropical vine in the Southwest

– Sometimes spices are used just for looks• Our idea of a garnish with a kick

– Other spices:• Ginger, nutmeg, cumin, curry tree, garlic, bay leaves, cloves thyme

seed, star anise, cinnamon, coriander, cardamom, turmeric,

– 13th Century, India was known for pepper ,ginger, and cinnamon• Started trade

Ayurveda- Hindu science of medicine

• Sanskrit writings of 3,000 years ago explains uses• Tumeric

– Itching cream, skin diseases

• Ginger– Liver complaints, anemia, rheumatism

• Cardamom– Headaches, fevers, eye disease, coughs, colds, eye disease

• Coriander– Insomnia, childbearing,

• Chilies• Paralysis

• Whole Cloves– Fevers, brain ailments, stomach disorders

Livestock • Largest population of milch (milk producing) livestock. • 107 million buffalo• 126 million goats • 66 million sheep

• Largest producer of milk • 16% of worldwide milk production

• 4.71% of global egg production

Import & Export of animal products

Animal products exported• Buffalo meat• Sheep meat• Goat meat• Poultry • Animal casings • Processed meat• Milk & milk products • Honey

Meat product sales increased 53% from 2010-2011 Animal casings reported growth of 11%Processed meat reported growth of 115%Honey reported growth of 70%Milk is the largest exported with skim milk commanding 28% of the skim milk market

Import and export of spices

• export of Spices from the country during 2011-12 has crossed $2000 Million mark.

• total of 5,75,270 tons of spices and spice products have been exported valued at 2037.76 million

• Previous year totals of 5,25,750 tons at 1502.85 Million• Increase in quantity at 9% • Increase in wealth at 43%

Top five selling spices are 1. Pepper2. Cardamom3. Chilli4. Ginger5. Tumeric

Religious Influences

Hinduism 80.5%Eating and Spiritual advancement VegetarianFood and negative/positive energy

Religious Influences

Muslim 13.4 % Cooking of meatsPilafsChanging the method of cooking

Customs and HolidaysHindu:

Diwali “Festival of Lights”Holi “Festival of Colors”Pongal – Give thanks to harvestDussehra – Worshiping goddesses and

weapons/tools of trade

Customs and HolidaysMuslim:

Ramzan MuharramId-e-MiladBakr-id

Work Cited

• http://censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/India_at_glance/religion.aspx• http://www.indianetzone.com/39/hindu_influence_on_indian_cuisine.htm• http://www.indianetzone.com/39/hindu_influence_on_indian_cuisine.htm• http://www.indianetzone.com/39/hindu_influence_on_indian_cuisine.htm• http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/india/milad-un-nabi• http://www.apeda.gov.in/apedawebsite/six_head_product/animal.htm• http://www.indianspices.com/html/s0420sts.htm • http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-

US:official&biw=1600&bih=770&tbm=isch&tbnid=D5PV1M_VJ7wzLM:&imgrefurl=http://animal.discovery.com/guides/endangered/mammals/asian-buffalo.html&docid=AzotvKqRcbz0qM&imgurl=http://animal.discovery.com/guides/endangered/mammals/gallery/asian_buffalo.jpg&w=540&h=380&ei=yQ12UL-QMYWxygHw8IHgBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=768&vpy=260&dur=6224&hovh=188&hovw=268&tx=187&ty=124&sig=109258849225817208363&page=2&tbnh=136&tbnw=221&start=33&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:33,i:215

• http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1600&bih=770&tbm=isch&tbnid=pQqAn6paS2jFpM:&imgrefurl=http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/top-calcium-sources-44112108&docid=96Dv9gyqTcZYOM&imgurl=http://www.thedailygreen.com/cm/thedailygreen/images/skinstory-milk-lg.jpg&w=360&h=460&ei=_g52UM2tOsnpqAG6qIDABw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=610&vpy=171&dur=2736&hovh=254&hovw=199&tx=124&ty=164&sig=109258849225817208363&page=1&tbnh=118&tbnw=93&start=0&ndsp=42&ved=1t:429,r:14,s:0,i:192

• http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1600&bih=770&tbm=isch&tbnid=XgS3xbBBWxIDkM:&imgrefurl=http://mumbai.postad.in/indian-spices-in-bulk-quantity-185759&docid=PpLzN98fmLiLAM&imgurl=http://mumbai.postad.in/adpics-org/5045a7f0089d022cb15aaaa46.jpg&w=432&h=281&ei=tA92UIK3GaTBygGQh4CoDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=450&vpy=368&dur=3309&hovh=181&hovw=278&tx=118&ty=111&sig=109258849225817208363&page=1&tbnh=122&tbnw=172&start=0&ndsp=33&ved=1t:429,r:27,s:0,i:168

• http://www.birding.in/biological_regions_of_india.htm• http://www.eoearth.org/article/Thar_desert?topic=74361• http://deccanplateau.net/• http://www.birding.in/biological_regions_of_india.htm• http://thewesternghats.in/about/western-ghats• http://www.ecoindia.com/ghats/eastern.html• http://library.thinkquest.org/10131/india.shtml• http://ethnicfoodsco.com/India/OldIFC/Classes/IndianFoodPyramid.htm• http://www.indianfoodsco.com/Classes/IndiasCuisine.htm