Indian Food Tasting

Time

4 3 2 1 Early-Mid Stages

Benefits

What you need

4-5 different savoury Indian foods and 1 sweet, such as kulfi, divided into bite-sized portions (be aware of dietary restrictions and specific requirements e.g., soft/pureed diets)
A mix of different spices in small pots, such as turmeric, cumin, garam masala, ginger, coriander, garlic, cinnamon, mango powder (amchoor), fennel, star anise, nutmeg, cloves, mustard seeds, black pepper
Jug of water and glasses

Intro

This Diwali – the Festival of Lights – why not embark on a journey of gastronomic discovery through India? A country famous for rich, flavourful dishes alive with exotic spices.

This activity is ideal for a group of up to 8. It involves tasting and talking about a selection of Indian delights, alongside smelling some of the aromatic spices that go in them. It’s a feast for the senses!

You could have a go at making the dishes or buy them from an Indian store or supermarket.

Top tip

Some ideas for bitesize savoury dishes to try

Samosas
Onion Bhajis
Chicken Tikka
Pakoras
Stuffed Parathas

The Activity

Invite the group to sit at a table
Tell the group you’re taking them on a sensory journey of Indian foods and aromas
Start off by passing one of spice pots around
Encourage everyone to enjoy the aroma and guess what spice it is
Next, begin sampling some of the tasty savoury treats
Encourage people to discuss what they do and don’t like and why
Offer everyone a drink of water
Pass around the next spice and ask people to guess what it is again
Invite everyone to taste the next savoury dish
Again, encourage people to discuss what they do and don’t like and why
Offer everyone some water before moving on to smelling the next spice
Repeat this process 4 or 5 times, making the final taster the sweet option
Finally, finish off by discovering which was everyone’s favourite