The north Indian Kormas with their savoury sauces, kebabs and Tandoori dishes, complemented by home made wheat breads such as Chapattis, Parathas and Naan, are world renowned. Hot, spiced tea is the favourite drink in the cold north Indian winter.

In southern India, where for the most part, people are vegetarians, rice is the staple food and is served throughout the meal. The dishes are also hotter than the northern dishes with chillies being a popular ingredient, as well as large amounts of coconut oil and coconut milk.

Southern Indians prefer steamed food rather than the barbecued Tandoori food so popular in the north and the favourite beverage is freshly roasted, ground coffee with sugar and milk. The Nilgiri Hills in the south are famous for producing some of the world's finest coffees.