A Journey For Food: Uncovering the Best of Global Flavors
By Md Rakibul Hassan [22201461]
Are you a food lover looking for inspiration to explore new cuisines and flavors?
Foods are not only a need of human beings but also reflects the culture, history, and ethics of people worldwide. It also drives the emotion of a nation and can be a source of national symbols or pride. From the colorful Biriyanis of South Asia to the Baklava pastries of Turkiye, each cuisine tells a story and represents a particular way of life. Moreover, foods have extraordinary power to unite people and make us mindful. Festivals without food being served are not exist as per my knowledge. Due to globalization, cultures are coming closer and for that people who are food lovers, experiencing the tastes of different nations. That’s why food vloggers are the most viewed content creators on social sites. In this blog, we will find several flavors known for blowing the mouth of foodies.
"Food is not just fuel, it's information. It talks to your DNA and tells it what to do."
- Dr. Mark Hyman
Biriyani : The Mughal Rice
We all know about biriyani, right? It is the most popular food in South Asia. People outside South Asia become surprised when they taste it for the first time. It is basically a mixed rice-based food that includes rice, different types of meat, sometimes vegetables, and condiments including fennel seeds, ghee (clarified butter), nutmeg, mace, pepper, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaves, coriander, mint, ginger, onions, tomatoes, green chilies, etc. According to historian Lizzie Collingham, The Biriyani is developed by the Mughals and it is closely connected to the Persian dish pilaf and Kabuli Pulaw [1].
Rendang: Indonesian Cultural Heritage
Do you know The Philosophy behind Rendang?
The Rendang is not just food, interestingly it is connected to the freedom struggle of Indonesia and also with the traditional Indonesian philosophy. During the Indonesian National Revolution, Indonesian first lady Fatmawati cooked and sent rendang to boost the morale of Indonesian freedom fighters [2]. There are four main ingredients to make this cuisine and they have all interesting equivalents according to Minangkabau tradition :
1. The meat (daging): It symbolizes their clan leaders.
2. The coconut milk (karambia): Symbolizes Intellectuals.
3. The chili (lado): Symbolizes Islamic religious clerics and the hotness of chili means the Sharia (traditional Islamic law)
4. The spice mixture (pemasek) symbolizes the rest of Minangkabau society.[3]
More interestingly, it is the 11th most delicious dish in the world according to CNN International.
Shashlik: A Taste of Central Asia
Shashlik is known as shish kabab in the Indian subcontinent, basically a Central Asian traditional food. With the influence of the Central Asians, it became popular in the Russian Empire and from there it spread to the Western World. It was originally made from lamb meat but now people use different kinds of meats to make shish kabab or shashlik. It is a dish of skewered and grilled cubes of meat and is served with vegetables and salad.
Baklava: The Ottoman Dessert
Baklava
Baklava was developed in the kitchens of the great Topkapi Palace of the Ottoman Caliphs. There was a ceremonial royal tradition in the empire called Baklava Alayı, isn’t it interesting [5]? In modern times, it is a very popular dessert in Turkish, Arabian, and Iranian cuisine. The main ingredients of Baklava include filo pastries, nuts, and syrups. Baklava has multiple layers of filo and nuts and some have only top and bottom pastry.
Coffee: ‘The Powerhouse’ for Work
Oh! Come on! We know about coffee!
Really? Let’s see!
Coffee is the most popular hot drink in the world and it is produced from coffee beans. Coffee has a stimulating effect on the human body due to its caffeine content. Coffee is a global commodity but it has a long history. The word coffee comes from the Ottoman Turkish word ‘kahve’ but its original word came from the Arabic word ‘qahwah’. Coffee plants' origin is from Yemen. It was commonly used by the Sufi saints and their followers to keep their focus on their prayers. Later, it spread over Ottoman Empire and Ottoman doctors drank coffee for keeping the focus on surgeries. As the Ottomans ruled over the Balkans and Eastern Europe, it quickly spread all over Europe. From that time, the Coffee business grew and now it continues.
1. Dhillon, Kris (2013). The New Curry Secret. Little, Brown Book Group. p. 234. ISBN 978-0-7160-2352-4.
2.Maharani, Shinta; Hantoro, Juli (18 April 2018). "Rendang, Nasionalisme Ibu Negara Fatmawati Soekarno". Tempo. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
3. "Rendang Minangkabau, Warisan Leluhur yang Mendunia". Kebudayaan Indonesia (in Indonesian). 7 August 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
4. Kaye, Alan S. (1986). "The Etymology of "Coffee": The Dark Brew". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 106 (3): 557–558. doi:10.2307/602112. ISSN 0003-0279. JSTOR 602112.
5. Wasti, Syed Tanvir (2005). "The Ottoman Ceremony of the Royal Purse". Middle Eastern Studies. 41 (2): 193–
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