Indian Food Tasting

  • 60
Time

Benefits
  • Bring Joy
  • Embrace Identity

Participants
  • Group Activity

What you need

  1. 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)
  2. 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
  3. 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

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