Cuisine in India

Indian cuisine has great variety and each region has its own distinctive flavours. Rice and wheat are the staple cereals. Chapatis or rotis, wheat based and rice are the staple meals of North Indian, eaten with a wide variety of side dishes like pickle, dals, curries, yogurt, chutney, etc. South Indian staple dishes consist of rice, sambhar, rasam, etc. Coconut and the popular snacks called idli dosa (rice-based) are other important ingredients in south Indian food. Fish is popular in coastal states, especially in Orissa, Kerala and West Bengal. Street foods like Panipuri, Vada pav, Bhelpuri, samosa, vada are also popular in different regions. Indianized version of the Chinese cuisine is also popular in the major urban areas. Like other Asian countries, tea enjoys heavy popularity, while coffee is quite popular in South India. Nimbu pani (lemonade), lassi, and coconut milk are also popular drinks of India.