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history of food

From Struggle Meal To Global Icon: The Story Of Instant Ramen

From Struggle Meal To Global Icon: The Story Of Instant Ramen

Born from postwar hunger, instant noodles went from black-market street food to a $50-billion global staple — and even made it to space.

  • 5 min read
  • Sep 25, 2025
An Onam Ode: When A Goddess Brought Abundance To Kerala

An Onam Ode: When A Goddess Brought Abundance To Kerala

This Onam, we revisit the tale of Annapoorneshwari of Cherukunnu, who turned Kerala's famine into plenitude, with her blessings of food.

  • 6 min read
  • Sep 05, 2025
Mineral Water on Trial: What Counts as “Natural”?

Mineral Water on Trial: What Counts as “Natural”?

From Europe’s 18th-century spas to today’s bottled brands, the labelling of mineral water has always been contested.

  • 6 min read
  • Aug 21, 2025
The Ice Cream That Refused to Melt

The Ice Cream That Refused to Melt

From a Japanese strawberry surplus to a dietitian’s mission for the elderly, meet the accidental, ingenious and determined innovators chasing a scoop that stands up to summer.

  • 5 min read
  • Aug 13, 2025
Grub’s Up: Why Insects Might Be The Future Of Food

Grub’s Up: Why Insects Might Be The Future Of Food

They’re tiny, nutritious, and good for the planet—so why do insects still gross people out? A new study looks at whether we are ready to swap steaks for six-legged snacks.

  • 4 min read
  • Jul 30, 2025
Why Fermented Foods Are Older (& Smarter) Than You Think

Why Fermented Foods Are Older (& Smarter) Than You Think

Pickled, brewed, or cured—these age-old foods may hold the key to future health and sustainable eating.

  • 5 min read
  • Jul 23, 2025
The Story Of Kesar Mangoes: India’s Saffron-Hued Summer Star

The Story Of Kesar Mangoes: India’s Saffron-Hued Summer Star

From a Junagadh orchard and a Nawab’s naming to kitchen experiments in Gujarat homes, the kesar mango has travelled far — and sweetly.

  • 5 min read
  • Jul 16, 2025
In Nagaland, Smoked Pork Tells A Story

In Nagaland, Smoked Pork Tells A Story

Smoked pork, in all its rich and regional variations, stands at the heart of the Northeast’s culinary identity — a comfort food as elemental to the region as the tandoor is to Punjab. Sona Bahadur's new book, An Invitation to Feast dives deeper into its many flavours, among other culinary treasures of India.

  • 11 min read
  • Jul 11, 2025
Soda, Pop Or Coke? What Our Soft Drink Names Say About Us

Soda, Pop Or Coke? What Our Soft Drink Names Say About Us

Soft drinks go by many names—and each one tells a story. From 1800s pharmacies to modern dialect maps, here’s how our favourite bubbly beverages became cultural flashpoints.

  • 5 min read
  • Jul 10, 2025
The Okinawa Diet: The Art Of Eating Light (& Living Long)

The Okinawa Diet: The Art Of Eating Light (& Living Long)

In a world obsessed with shortcuts, the Okinawan way is a long, slow, savoury exhale.

  • 6 min read
  • Jul 08, 2025
Gujarat’s Mukhwas Tradition: From Ayurvedic Roots To Modern Buzz

Gujarat’s Mukhwas Tradition: From Ayurvedic Roots To Modern Buzz

Mukhwas has always been a part of Gujarati homes. It started with simple ingredients like saunf and ajwain, made in small batches at home. Today, it has changed. People now enjoy sugar-free blends and flavoured versions. Some brands package it like a luxury item. Mukhwas has become more than a mouth freshener; it has entered the world of business, design, health, and gifting.

  • 8 min read
  • Jul 04, 2025
World Cocktail Day: The Global Evolution Of Drinks

World Cocktail Day: The Global Evolution Of Drinks

Every year, World Cocktail Day is marked on 13 May as a spirited nod to the craft of mixology and to global cocktail cultures. Here’s more on the evolution of this day throughout history and its origins that can be traced back to the 19th century.

  • 4 min read
  • May 13, 2025
Thakurbari’s Table: A Legacy Of Flavours, Identity & Innovation

Thakurbari’s Table: A Legacy Of Flavours, Identity & Innovation

On the 164th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, a look at how Thakurbari’s culinary tradition has evolved, shaped by the family’s dedication to documenting recipes, experimenting with flavours, and blending heritage with innovation.

  • 18 min read
  • May 10, 2025
Sattu: The Flour That Fed the Fields, and Now Feeds The Trend

Sattu: The Flour That Fed the Fields, and Now Feeds The Trend

Once a staple of rural diets and caste-conscious kitchens, sattu is now being rebranded as an Indian superfood.

  • 6 min read
  • Apr 25, 2025
Currying Contempt: The Bitter Legacy Of A Colonial Slur

Currying Contempt: The Bitter Legacy Of A Colonial Slur

How a British-invented dish became a tool of racial abuse — and why it’s time to confront the language that simmers beneath our plates.

  • 6 min read
  • Apr 22, 2025
How Hot Cross Buns Became a Global Easter Icon

How Hot Cross Buns Became a Global Easter Icon

From pagan rituals to supermarket shelves, this spiced bun has carried centuries of faith, folklore, and flavour in its sticky swirl.

  • 5 min read
  • Apr 18, 2025
Of Hats, Hothouses & Hegemony: The Colonial Story Of The Banana

Of Hats, Hothouses & Hegemony: The Colonial Story Of The Banana

Bananas once dazzled Britain’s ration-weary audiences and changed the face of global agriculture—but their sweet image masks a history of labour exploitation, imperial ambition, and cultural symbolism.

  • 6 min read
  • Apr 17, 2025
High Spirits: The Curious, Cross-Cultural Life Of The Highball

High Spirits: The Curious, Cross-Cultural Life Of The Highball

From smoky Scotch beginnings to Japan’s obsession with clarity and craft, the highball’s evolution is a sparkling study in global taste.

  • 4 min read
  • Apr 09, 2025