The southern part of India is an amalgamation of tradition, culture, and cuisine, all weaved into a magical experience. A tour of South India is a unique opportunity to sample South Indian cuisine cooked with flavourful local spices. Tasting the staple food of South India is a great way to experience the true essence of the land. Sampling the unique flavours of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala can be a culinary expedition worth remembering. Besides the beautiful temples, tea gardens, hills, and beaches, the South Indian dishes will leave you asking for more. Very diverse from each other, these regional cuisines reflect the natural resources of each area while also showcasing the rich ethnic mixture of its people – Syrian Christians, Mughal rulers, Hindu Brahmins, and Jews.

The cuisine of South India, with its sharp and tangy flavours, easily makes its way onto the menu of every visiting guest. There is a wide variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Also, in South India, more people are used to eating pork and beef, unlike in other parts of the country. Seafood is also an integral part of South India’s famous food because of the long coastline that South India has. What is special about South Indian dishes is that they are very light on the stomach despite being spicy. The breakfast menu in this part of the country usually consists of South Indian Dosa (a thin crepe made of rice flour), which is eaten with tangy coconut paste and Sambar – a light syrup made with tomatoes, tamarind, and spices. The other staple food of South India is Appam with chicken or vegetable stew. Appam is a soft crepe made out of rice flour and coconut milk and is mostly served for lunch. This region also has its iconic fritters – known as Vadas. Along with dishes like Idli – steamed rice cakes and Uttapam – pancakes made with fermented rice paste and spices, these are the go-to street foods of South India.

Due to the geographical advantage of being down South, this region has still maintained its age-old cooking style and authentic taste, away from the North Indian influence. Some regions have made their cuisine more famous than others, like the Chettinad chicken/crab. Coming from the Chettinad region in Tamil Nadu, this cuisine, cooked with local spices, is a meal for the royals. Another staple food of South India is the Malabar paratha from Kerala. A specially prepared flatbread, this goes well with spicy chicken curry and is a must-have on every occasion. The list is endless, and only a visit to South India will do justice to the scrumptious spread that it has to offer.