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.
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
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
Top tip
Some ideas for bitesize savoury dishes to try
- Samosas
- Onion Bhajis
- Chicken Tikka
- Pakoras
- Stuffed Parathas
Based on 1500+ happy reviews
Discussion
Food
Reminiscence
