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Curry

The spice blend that conquered Britain, Japan, and the world.

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About

Curry — any dish cooked with a blend of spices including turmeric, coriander, cumin, and chili — originated in the Indian subcontinent over 4,000 years ago and has become one of the world's most consumed flavors. British colonization of India introduced curry to Britain, where it became so embedded that chicken tikka masala (likely invented in Birmingham or Glasgow) has been called 'Britain's true national dish.' In Japan, curry (introduced by the British in the Meiji era) became a staple school cafeteria dish and comfort food — Japanese curry is sweeter and milder than Indian variants. Curry has over 80 regional varieties across India alone, from the coconut curries of Kerala to the dry curries of Rajasthan to the mustard-seed curries of Bengal.

# Top 10 Curry facts

  1. 1Chicken tikka masala, arguably Britain's favorite dish, was likely invented in Birmingham or Glasgow by Bangladeshi restaurateurs
  2. 2Japanese schoolchildren eat curry rice approximately once a week — it became a staple school lunch dish
  3. 3India exports over $600 million of spices annually — curry ingredients are among its largest exports

Fascinating Facts

  • Chicken tikka masala, arguably Britain's favorite dish, was likely invented in Birmingham or Glasgow by Bangladeshi restaurateurs
  • Japanese schoolchildren eat curry rice approximately once a week — it became a staple school lunch dish
  • India exports over $600 million of spices annually — curry ingredients are among its largest exports
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